A gospel artiste, Matthew Ogundele, and three members of his crew have been discovered dead inside a music studio in the Abraham Adesanya area of Ajah, Lagos State.
The other victims were identified as Itunu Ogundele, Joseph Sanya and a blogger, Matthew Awosanya, also known as JoesTv.
It was gathered that the deceased were invited to perform on Tuesday, the second day of a three-day birthday praise organised by another female gospel artiste, Olanireti Akinbola.
A police source, who spoke to our correspondent on Saturday, said the crew finished their session late and decided to spend the night in the studio, where their remains were later found on Wednesday.
“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 disclosed.
A Christian blog, Omojesu, in a Facebook post seen by our correspondent on Saturday, stated that the deceased 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.
It was further gathered that the matter was reported at the Ajiwe Police Station, Ajah.
Friends and colleagues of the deceased have taken to social media to demand justice.
Photos circulating online show blood stains around the noses, ears and mouths of the victims, raising concerns and speculation about the cause of their deaths.
When contacted on Saturday, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the incident.
She said the case was reported on Wednesday by the studio owner, Akintayo Akinbola, who is also the husband of the celebrant.
According to her, Akintayo told the police that he left the artistes at his music studio inside the HFP Shopping Complex on Tuesday night after buying food for them as they prepared for a concert.
He said the artistes returned to the studio with the food while he went home.
Adebisi said, “However, at about 11am on Wednesday, Akintayo said he 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.”
She added that detectives from the command visited the scene and took photographs, noting that no signs of violence were found 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 added.
Adebisi further stated that the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, for further investigation.
(PUNCH)
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