A DNA test has confirmed that the unidentified body discovered at a mortuary in Ikorodu, Lagos State, was that of journalist Pelumi Onifade, who went missing after being arrested while covering the #EndSARS protests in 2020.
Onifade, whose full name was Onifade Emmanuel Pelumi, was reporting on the anti-police brutality demonstrations on October 24, 2020, when he was reportedly arrested by police officers in the Agege area of Lagos.
According to reports, the young journalist had identified himself as a member of the press and was wearing clothing that clearly marked him as a journalist at the time of his arrest.
Days after his disappearance, an unidentified body was deposited at a mortuary in Ikorodu, raising suspicions that it could be Onifade.
However, the remains could not be formally identified, leaving his family in a prolonged search for answers.
In July 2024, the Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the Lagos State Government to conduct a coroner’s inquest into the circumstances surrounding his death.
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The court also directed the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital to carry out a post-mortem examination on the unidentified body.
LASUTH later explained that efforts to identify the remains had been delayed because DNA samples stored at the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre were destroyed during the #EndSARS unrest in October 2020.
Following years of legal proceedings and investigations, a fresh DNA test was conducted using a sample provided by Onifade’s mother.
During the latest coroner’s proceedings, the magistrate handling the matter disclosed that the DNA analysis confirmed a match between the unidentified body and the sample submitted by his mother, conclusively establishing that the remains were those of the missing journalist.
The confirmation brings an end to nearly six years of uncertainty for Onifade’s family, who have continued to seek justice and closure since his disappearance during the protests.
The family’s legal representatives have called for a comprehensive autopsy to determine the exact cause of death and help establish accountability for the circumstances surrounding his demise.
The case has been adjourned until July 7, 2026, for further proceedings as the coroner’s inquest continues.