The mother of one of the victims, who was discovered dead alongside other members of a music team inside a studio in the Abraham Adesanya neighborhood of Ajah, Lagos State, has called for justice, calling the killings painful and mysterious.
In a heartbreaking video posted on Saturday by an event content creator on Facebook, Seyizy Sho, the bereaved mother, called to Nigerians to help her.
“Nigerians, please help me. Matthew went to a show. They left on Tuesday. There were four of them. When we got to the venue in Ajah, we did not find them. We kept calling their mobile numbers non-stop, but they did not pick up,” the mother said.
Narrating how the family searched for the victims, she added, “When we got to Ajah two days ago, we had to look for where they organized the show. We searched around before we found their corpses.
“Please help me. Come to my aid. Do not let me suffer in vain. Look at how they destroyed their lives. I do not know what they gave them to eat.
“The four of them who slept in the studio died. Look at how they were swollen and peeling. Please, I am the mother of Matthew Segun Praise.”
It was gathered that a gospel artiste, Matthew Ogundele, and three of his crew members were found dead inside a music studio in the area.
The other victims were identified as Itunu Ogundele, Joseph Sanya, and a blogger, Matthew Awosanya, popularly known as JoesTv.
Chronicle NG gathered that the victims were invited to perform on Tuesday, the second day of a three-day birthday praise program organized by another female gospel artist, Olanireti Akinbola.
A police source disclosed that the session ran late into the night and the crew decided to sleep over in the studio. Their lifeless bodies were reportedly discovered the following morning.
“The convener invited some gospel artists 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 said.
Omojesu, a Christian blog, also claimed in a Facebook post that the deceased remained at the studio owing to the distance from their houses.
Pictures circulating online showed what seemed to be blood marks on the victims’ noses, ears, and mouths, generating worries and suspicion about the circumstances of their deaths.
Abimbola Adebisi, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the event, saying the case was reported on Wednesday by the studio owner, Akintayo Akinbola, who is also the celebrant’s husband.
According to her, Akintayo stated that he left the artists in his music studio inside the HFP Shopping Complex on Tuesday night after purchasing food for them while they prepared for the show.
“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 artists were discovered,” Adebisi said.
She also stated that detectives visited the scene and took photographs, noting that no visible marks 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 said.
Adebisi added that the matter has been handed to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Panti, Yaba, for further investigation.
Meanwhile, colleagues and friends of the deceased have resorted to social media to demand a thorough inquiry and justice for the victims, as families continue to mourn the tragic loss.
