Tragedy struck the gospel music community as Nigerian gospel musician Matthew Ogundele and three members of his crew were found 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, popularly known as JoesTv. The deceased were reportedly invited to minister on Tuesday during a three-day birthday praise programme organised by fellow gospel artiste, Olanireti Akinbola.
According to a police source, the programme, which began on Monday, lasted late into the night on Tuesday after Ogundele and his team performed. Due to the late hour and the distance to their homes, the artistes allegedly decided to spend the night at the studio.
Their lifeless bodies were discovered the following morning. A Christian blog, Omojesu, reported that the victims chose to stay overnight because travelling home late would have been difficult. The report stated that they were found dead in their sleep.
The incident was reported at the Ajiwe Police Station in Ajah, while colleagues and friends of the deceased have taken to social media to demand justice. Images circulating online showing blood around the noses, mouths, and ears of the victims have heightened public concern and speculation over the cause of their deaths.
Confirming the incident, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, said the case was reported on Wednesday by the studio owner, Akintayo Akinbola, who is also the husband of the celebrant.
She explained that Akinbola told police he left the artistes in his studio, located at the HFP Shopping Complex, on Tuesday night after buying food for them while they prepared for a music concert. He reportedly returned around 11 a.m. on Wednesday to find the studio door locked from the inside.
“Alarmed, he raised an alarm and the door was forced open. Upon entry, the lifeless bodies of the four artistes were found inside the studio,” Adebisi said.
She added that detectives who visited the scene observed no visible signs of violence on the bodies. The corpses were taken to the Mainland Hospital, Yaba, where they were confirmed dead by a medical doctor before being deposited at the Mainland General Hospital mortuary for autopsy.
According to the police spokesperson, the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, for a comprehensive investigation to determine the exact cause of death.