The mother of one of the victims found dead alongside other members of a music crew inside a studio in the Abraham Adesanya area of Ajah, Lagos State, has cried out for justice, describing the deaths as painful and suspicious.

In an emotional video uploaded on Saturday by an event content creator on Facebook, Seyizy Sho, the grieving mother appealed to Nigerians to come to her aid.

“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,” she said.

Recounting how the family searched for the victims, she added, “When we got to Ajah two days ago, we had to look for where they organised 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.”

PUNCH Online had earlier reported that a gospel artiste, Matthew Ogundele, and three of his crew members were found dead inside a music studio in the area.

The other deceased were identified as Itunu Ogundele, Joseph Sanya, and a blogger, Matthew Awosanya, popularly known as JoesTv.

Sunday PUNCH gathered that the victims were invited to perform on Tuesday, the second day of a three-day birthday praise programme organised by another female gospel artiste, 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 artistes 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.

A Christian blog, Omojesu, also stated in a Facebook post that the deceased allegedly stayed back at the studio due to the distance from their homes.

Pictures circulating online showed what appeared to be blood stains around the noses, ears and mouths of the victims, raising concerns and speculation over the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

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.

According to her, Akintayo said he had left the artistes in his music studio located inside the HFP Shopping Complex on Tuesday night after buying food for them as they prepared for the concert.

“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 artistes were discovered,” Adebisi said.

She added 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 further disclosed that the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, for further investigation.

Meanwhile, colleagues and friends of the deceased have taken to social media to demand a thorough investigation and justice for the victims, as families continue to mourn the tragic loss. (Sunday PUNCH, excluding headline)

•The victims, Matthew Ogundele, Itunu Ogundele, Joseph Sanya, and a blogger, Matthew Awosanya, popularly known as JoesTv…Photo Credit: Facebook/ Olusola Agbalu

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