6 years After, DNA Test Confirms Body Found in Lagos Mortuary Was Missing #EndSARS Journalist Pelumi Onifade

A DNA test has finally confirmed that the unidentified body discovered at a mortuary in Ikorodu, Lagos State, belongs to journalist Pelumi Onifade, who disappeared after his arrest during the #EndSARS protests in October 2020.

Onifade, whose full name was Onifade Emmanuel Pelumi, was covering the nationwide demonstrations against police brutality on October 24, 2020, when he was reportedly arrested by police officers in the Agege area of Lagos.

Witnesses and family members have maintained that he clearly identified himself as a journalist at the time of his arrest and was dressed in clothing bearing press identification.

His disappearance sparked widespread concern among colleagues, media organisations and human rights advocates. Days after he was last seen, an unidentified body was deposited at a mortuary in Ikorodu, raising suspicions that it could be Onifade. However, the remains could not be conclusively identified, leaving his family trapped in years of painful uncertainty.

In July 2024, a Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the Lagos State Government to initiate a coroner’s inquest into the circumstances surrounding his death. The court also directed the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) to conduct a post-mortem examination on the unidentified body.

LASUTH later revealed that efforts to establish the body’s identity had been significantly delayed after DNA samples stored at the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre were destroyed during the unrest that accompanied the #EndSARS protests in October 2020.

Following prolonged legal proceedings and renewed efforts by the family, a fresh DNA test was eventually conducted using a sample provided by Onifade’s mother.

During the latest court proceedings, the presiding magistrate disclosed that the test results confirmed a genetic match between the unidentified remains and the sample submitted by his mother, bringing an end to nearly six years of uncertainty over the journalist’s fate.

The confirmation marks a heartbreaking moment for Onifade’s family, who have spent years searching for answers while campaigning for justice and accountability.

Despite the identification, several questions surrounding the circumstances of his death remain unresolved. The family’s legal representatives are now pushing for a comprehensive autopsy to determine the exact cause of death and establish whether any individuals or institutions should be held responsible.

The case has been adjourned until July 7, 2026, when further proceedings are expected to continue.