The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a suspect over 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 deceased were identified as Itunu Ogundele, Joseph Sanya, and a blogger, Matthew Awosanya, also known as JoesTv.
The spokesperson for the command, Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the arrest on Sunday, stating that the suspect, identified as the organiser of the event at which the victims were scheduled 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.
This newspaper 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 said the programme extended late into the night, prompting the artistes to spend the night at 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 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 incident has since triggered widespread outrage on social media, with colleagues and friends of the deceased demanding justice and a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
While the exact cause of death has yet to be determined, speculations have ranged from inhalation of generator fumes to possible food poisoning.
Adebisi disclosed that 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 purchased food for the artistes on Tuesday night and left them inside the studio located within the HFP Shopping Complex before heading 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 examined the scene found no visible signs 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, associates of the deceased alleged that the celebrant had gone into hiding, noting that it was her husband who is currently in police custody.
In an emotional video circulating online, 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.”