Tragedy has struck the Nigerian gospel music community following the mysterious death of singer Matthew Ogundele and three of his associates inside a music studio in the Ajah area of Lagos State. The victims, identified as Itunu Ogundele, Joseph Sanya, and popular blogger Matthew Awosanya (known as JoesTv), were found lifeless on Wednesday morning, February 4, 2026.
The group had been invited to perform at a three-day “birthday praise” event organized by gospel artist Olanireti Akinbola. Because the program ran late into Tuesday night and the studio was far from their homes, the crew decided to sleep over at the facility located within the HFP Shopping Complex. The owner of the studio, Akintayo Akinbola, told police he had last seen them alive on Tuesday night after buying them food. When he returned at 11 a.m. the following day, he found the studio door locked from the inside and eventually forced it open to discover the four bodies.
The incident has sparked a wave of shock and suspicion on social media, especially after images surfaced showing traces of blood around the noses, mouths, and ears of the deceased.
While some speculate that generator fumes (carbon monoxide poisoning) might be responsible, others are calling for a deeper investigation into the food they consumed or the air quality within the soundproofed room.
The Lagos State Police Command, through spokesperson SP Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed that no visible marks of violence were found on the bodies. The case has now been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Panti for a comprehensive investigation. Autopsies are expected to be carried out at the Mainland General Hospital to determine the exact cause of death.
