Tragedy struck in Ajah, Lagos State, as gospel singer Matthew Ogundele and three of his crew members were discovered dead inside a music studio in the Abraham Adesanya area.
The deceased were identified as Itunu Ogundele, Joseph Sanya, and blogger Matthew Awosanya, popularly known as JoesTv.
According to reports, the group had been invited to perform on Tuesday, the second day of a three-day birthday praise event organised by fellow gospel artiste Olanireti Akinbola. A police source told Sunday PUNCH that the artistes finished late and decided to stay overnight at the studio, where their bodies were found the following morning.
“The convener invited some gospel artistes to minister during her three-day birthday praise, which started on Monday. Segun Praise was scheduled to minister on the second day, and he came with his crew. The session started in the evening and ran late, so they decided to stay overnight in the studio. It was the following morning that we heard that their lifeless bodies were found in the studio,” the source said.
A Christian blog, Omojesu, in a Facebook post, added that the artistes could not return home due to the distance. “In pursuit of a better life, a blogger known as JoesMediaTv and three musicians were reportedly invited to perform at a virtual birthday praise event at a studio around Ajah. Due to the distance of the studio from their homes, they decided to stay overnight at the location. Allegedly, they all passed away in their sleep,” the post read.
The incident was reported at Ajiwe Police Station, Ajah. Friends and colleagues of the deceased have called for justice following the tragedy. Circulating photos of the victims reportedly showed blood stains in the nose, ears, and mouth, raising concerns about the circumstances of their deaths.
Confirming the incident on Saturday, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer Abimbola Adebisi said the case was reported by the studio owner, Akintayo Akinbola, husband of the celebrant.
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“Akintayo said he left the artistes at his music studio located inside the HFP Shopping Complex on Tuesday night after buying food for them, as they were preparing for a music concert. However, at about 11am on Wednesday, Akintayo returned to the studio and discovered that the door was locked from the inside. Alarmed by the situation, he reportedly called for help, and the door was eventually forced open. On entering the studio, the lifeless bodies of the four artistes were discovered,” Adebisi said.
She added that detectives visited the scene, took photographs, and found no signs of violence on the bodies. “The corpses were taken to the Mainland Hospital, Yaba, where a medical doctor on duty confirmed them dead. The bodies were later deposited at the Mainland General Hospital mortuary, Yaba, for autopsy and preservation,” she explained.
Adebisi noted that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Panti, Yaba, for further investigations.