By Kunle Adeyemi
Published: Monday, 11 Dec 2006
A choir rehearsal that started with praises to God in a church in Lagos on Saturday ended with grief when a lady believed to be a chorister was found dead in the church.The circumstances that built up to the death could not be ascertained as at press time, but our correspondent learnt that the 20-year-old lady was found hanging.

The choir/youth members of a church (name withheld) in Amuwo Odofin area of the state were said to have converged for their weekly rehearsal on Saturday.Midway into the rehearsal, one of the youths was said to have visited the toilet and was shocked to find a human body dangling from the ceiling of the church’s toilet.She reportedly raised the alarm, which drew the attention of her colleagues to the scene.On examination, the youths discovered that the hanging body was their colleague, who had earlier reported for the rehearsal.

Some elders of the church were invited and when they loosed the noose from the neck of the girl, who was simply identified as Ochuko, she was stone dead.A report was made at Festac Town Police Station at about 7pm on the same day and some policemen were drafted to the church to confirm what happened.The policemen saw the lifeless body of the lady still lying by the toilet and removed it to the mortuary of the Lagos State General Hospital, Marina.

It was learnt that the church elders, on Sunday evening, were still meeting to unravel the circumstances that led to the incident.Spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Olubode Ojajuni, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Sunday.Ojajuni, a newly promoted superintendent of police, told our correspondent that the police would collaborate with the church and the lady’s family in order to establish the reason for the lady’s action.

He said, “We have not suspected any foul play, but we are going to investigate the girl’s death.“For instance, we need to know the girl’s history, her position in the church and her relationship with other people, including her family members. This information will give us a clue on why she chose to commit suicide in the church, and if possible, the reason for her action.”The PPRO said the police had already interviewed some members of the church, adding that the investigation was still in progress.
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