A gospel singer, Matthew Ogundele, and three members of his crew have been 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 known as Matthew Awosanya, popularly called JoesTv.
According to reports, the victims were invited to minister on Tuesday during the second day of a three-day birthday praise programme organised by a female gospel artiste, Olanireti Akinbola.
A source disclosed that the event, which began in the evening, lasted late into the night. As a result, the gospel singer and his team reportedly decided to spend the night at the studio instead of returning home.
The following morning, Wednesday, their lifeless bodies were discovered inside the studio.
A Christian blog, Omojesu, also reported on Facebook that the group stayed back due to the distance of the studio from their homes, adding that they allegedly died in their sleep.
The matter was said to have been reported at the Ajiwe Police Station in Ajah, while friends and colleagues of the deceased have taken to social media to demand justice.
Confirming the incident, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, said the case was reported on Wednesday by the studio owner, Akintayo Akinbola, who is also the husband of the celebrant.
Adebisi explained that Akintayo claimed he left the artistes in his studio located inside the HFP Shopping Complex on Tuesday night after buying food for them, as they prepared for a music concert.
However, he reportedly returned around 11am the next day and found the door locked from inside. After calling for help, the door was forced open, and the bodies of the four victims were discovered.
The police spokesperson said detectives visited the scene, took photographs, and found no visible signs of violence on the bodies.
She added that the corpses were taken to the Mainland Hospital in Yaba, where a doctor confirmed them dead. The bodies were later deposited at the Mainland General Hospital mortuary for autopsy.
Adebisi noted that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, for further investigation.
