Six Years After Disappearance, DNA Test Confirms Body Found in Ikorodu Mortuary Was Missing #EndSARS Reporter Pelumi Onifade

Nearly six years after his disappearance during the #EndSARS protests, a DNA test has confirmed that an unidentified body discovered at a mortuary in Ikorodu, Lagos State, was that of journalist Onifade Emmanuel Pelumi, popularly known as Pelumi Onifade.

Onifade went missing on October 24, 2020, while covering the nationwide protests against police brutality in the Agege area of Lagos. Reports indicate that he was arrested by police officers during the unrest despite identifying himself as a journalist and wearing clothing that clearly indicated his press affiliation.

Shortly after his disappearance, an unidentified body was deposited at a mortuary in Ikorodu, sparking concerns that it could be Onifade. However, the identity of the deceased remained unconfirmed for years, leaving his family in a prolonged search for answers and justice.

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

LASUTH later informed the court that efforts to establish the identity of the deceased had been hampered after DNA samples stored at the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre were reportedly destroyed during the unrest that followed the #EndSARS protests in October 2020.

Following extensive legal proceedings, a fresh DNA analysis was conducted using a sample provided by Onifade's mother.

At the latest hearing, the presiding magistrate disclosed that the test results confirmed a genetic match between the unidentified body and the sample submitted by the journalist's mother, officially establishing the identity of the deceased.

The confirmation brings a painful end to years of uncertainty for Onifade's family, who have continued to seek justice and closure since his disappearance.

Counsel representing the family has called for a comprehensive autopsy to determine the exact cause of death and assist in uncovering the circumstances surrounding the journalist's demise.

The case has been adjourned until July 7, 2026, for further proceedings.

The development marks a significant milestone in a case that has become one of the most prominent unresolved incidents linked to the #EndSARS protests, a movement that drew global attention to allegations of police brutality and human rights abuses in Nigeria.