Dare Babalola
Gospel artiste Matthew Ogundele and three members of his crew were found dead inside a music studio in Lagos State’s Ajah area, sending shockwaves through Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
The deceased were identified as Matthew Ogundele, Itunu Ogundele, Joseph Sanya, and a blogger, Matthew Awosanya, also known as JoesTv.
The four were reportedly invited to perform on Tuesday, the second day of a three-day birthday praise event hosted by gospel artiste Olanireti Akinbola, but never made it out alive.
A police source disclosed that Ogundele and his crew finished recording late and opted to spend the night in the studio, where their lifeless bodies were discovered 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 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 their lifeless bodies had been found,” the source said.
A Christian blog, Omojesu, suggested the victims might have dossed off and passed away in their sleep, given the late finish time and the studio’s distance from their homes.
The Ajiwe Police Station in Ajah received a report of the incident after studio owner Akintayo Akinbola arrived around 11am on Wednesday to find the door locked from the inside, sparking concern and leading to the discovery of the bodies.
He reportedly called for help, and the door was forced open to reveal the lifeless bodies. Akintayo, husband of the celebrant, told police he had left the artistes in the studio the previous night after buying food for them as they prepared for the concert.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the discovery, adding that no signs of violence were observed on the bodies. The victims were taken to Mainland Hospital, Yaba, where a medical doctor confirmed their deaths before the corpses were deposited at the Mainland General Hospital mortuary for autopsy and preservation.
Photos circulating online reportedly show blood stains around the noses, ears, and mouths of the victims, prompting public concern and speculation about the cause of death. Authorities have since transferred the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, for further investigation.
Friends, colleagues, and fans have taken to social media to mourn the deaths and demand answers, while industry observers have expressed alarm over the tragedy and raised questions about safety standards in music studios.
As the investigation continues, many in the Nigerian gospel music community are calling for a thorough inquiry to determine what led to the untimely deaths of Matthew Ogundele and his team, hoping that justice and clarity will be achieved.
