The Nigerian gospel music community has been thrown into mourning following the discovery of gospel artiste, Matthew Ogundele and three crew members, Itunu Ogundele, Joseph Sanya, and blogger Matthew Awosanya (JoesTv), were found dead in a music studio in Ajah, Lagos.
The four were reportedly invited to minister on Tuesday during the second day of a three-day birthday praise event organised by gospel artiste Olanireti Akinbola. However, they never emerged from the studio after the recording session.
According to a police source, Ogundele and his team completed their recording late in the night and decided to spend the night at the studio. Their lifeless bodies were discovered the following morning.
“The convener invited several gospel artistes to minister during her three-day birthday praise programme, which began on Monday,” the source said. “Matthew Ogundele was scheduled to minister on the second day and came with his crew. The session ran late into the night, so they opted to stay back in the studio. It was the next morning that their bodies were found.”
A Christian blog, Omojesu, suggested that the victims may have fallen asleep and died in their sleep, considering the late hour they finished and the distance of their homes from the studio. However, authorities have not confirmed this claim.
The incident was reported at the Ajiwe Police Station, Ajah, after the studio owner, Akintayo Akinbola, arrived at the premises around 11am on Wednesday and discovered that the door was locked from the inside. Alarmed by the situation, he raised the alarm, and the door was eventually forced open, revealing the bodies.
Akintayo, who is also the husband of the celebrant, told police that he had left the artistes in the studio the previous night after buying food for them as they prepared for the praise event.
Confirming the incident, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, said no visible signs of violence were observed on the bodies. He added that the victims were taken to Mainland Hospital, Yaba, where a medical doctor confirmed their deaths. The corpses were later deposited at the Mainland General Hospital mortuary for autopsy and preservation.
Meanwhile, photos circulating on social media reportedly show blood stains around the noses, ears and mouths of the victims, fuelling public concern and speculation about the cause of death. The police have since transferred the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, for a comprehensive investigation.
Friends, colleagues and fans have taken to social media to mourn the deceased and demand answers, while industry observers have raised concerns about safety conditions in music studios.
As investigations continue, members of the Nigerian gospel music community are calling for a thorough and transparent inquiry to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Matthew Ogundele and his team, hoping that clarity and justice will prevail.
No comments:
Post a Comment