The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a suspect in connection with the death of a gospel artiste, Matthew Ogundele, popularly known as Segun Praise, and three members of his crew, who were found dead inside a music studio in the Abraham Adesanya area of Ajah, Lagos.
The other victims were identified as Itunu Ogundele, Joseph Sanya and a blogger, Matthew Awosanya, also known as JoesTv.
The command’s spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the arrest to PUNCH Metro on Sunday, stating that the suspect — identified as the organiser of the event where the victims were billed to perform — is currently in police custody.
“The incident was initially reported at the Ajah Division but was later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department. One suspect, identified as the organiser of the event, is currently in custody. Investigation is ongoing while we await the autopsy report,” she said.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the victims had been invited to minister on Tuesday, the second day of a three-day virtual birthday praise programme organised by a female gospel artiste, Olanireti Akinbola.
A police source had told our correspondent in confidence on Saturday that the session extended late into the night, prompting the artistes to spend the night at the studio. 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 came with his crew. The programme ended late, so they decided to sleep in the studio. It was the next morning that their bodies were found,” the source said.
A Christian blog, Omojesu, also claimed in a Facebook post that the victims stayed back because the studio was far from their homes.
The tragedy has since sparked outrage online, with colleagues and friends demanding justice and a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
While the exact cause of death remains unknown, speculations have ranged from inhalation of generator fumes to possible food poisoning.
Adebisi said the studio owner, Akintayo Akinbola — who is also the husband of the celebrant — reported the incident to the police on Wednesday.
According to her, he told investigators that he bought food for the artistes on Tuesday night and left them in the studio located inside the HFP Shopping Complex before going home.
“He said the artistes returned to the studio with the food while he left. At about 11am on Wednesday, he came back and found the door locked from the inside. He called for help, and the door was forced open. On entering, the lifeless bodies of the four artistes were discovered,” Adebisi explained.
She added that detectives who visited the scene found no marks of violence on the bodies.
“The corpses were taken to Mainland Hospital, Yaba, where a doctor confirmed them dead. The bodies have been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy and preservation,” she said.
Meanwhile, some associates of the victims alleged that the celebrant had gone into hiding, noting that her husband was the one currently in custody.
One of their colleagues, who requested anonymity, said, “Olanireti invited them, but since the incident happened, she has refused to speak. Her social media accounts are now private. The husband is the one with the police.”
In an emotional video circulating on social media, the mother of one of the victims, Matthew, appealed for justice, describing the deaths as painful and suspicious.
“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 couldn’t find them. We kept calling their phones, but no response,” she said tearfully.
“We later found their corpses. Please, don’t let me suffer in vain. I don’t know what they gave them to eat. The four of them who slept in that studio died.”
Incidents of sudden deaths in enclosed spaces have been reported across the country in recent years, often linked to generator fumes, poor ventilation or faulty electrical equipment.
PUNCH Metro had reported in January that a family of six in Rivers State died from suspected inhalation of generator fumes.
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