Nearly six years after he vanished while covering the #EndSARS protests in Lagos, a DNA test has confirmed that an unidentified body deposited at a mortuary in Ikorodu was that of journalist Pelumi Onifade.
Onifade, whose full name was Onifade Emmanuel Pelumi, went missing on October 24, 2020, after he was reportedly arrested by police officers while covering demonstrations against police brutality in the Agege area of Lagos.
According to accounts at the time, the young journalist had identified himself as a member of the press and was wearing clothing that clearly indicated his profession when he was allegedly taken into custody.
Days after his disappearance, an unidentified body was deposited at a mortuary in Ikorodu, raising suspicions among family members and rights advocates that it could be Onifade. However, the remains remained unidentified for years, leaving his loved ones searching for answers.
A breakthrough came in July 2024 when a Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the Lagos State Government to conduct a coroner’s inquest into the circumstances surrounding his death. The court also directed the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) to carry out a post-mortem examination on the unidentified body.
LASUTH later disclosed that efforts to identify the remains had been complicated by the destruction of DNA samples stored at the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre during the 2020 #EndSARS unrest.
Following years of legal proceedings and investigations, a fresh DNA test was conducted using a sample provided by Onifade’s mother.
The magistrate overseeing the case has now confirmed that the results established a DNA match between the unidentified body and the sample submitted by his mother, finally ending years of uncertainty over his fate.
The confirmation brings a painful measure of closure to Onifade’s family, who have continued to seek answers and justice since his disappearance.
The family’s legal representatives are now demanding a full autopsy to determine the exact cause of death and establish accountability for the events that led to his demise.
The matter has been adjourned to July 7, 2026, for further proceedings.
