DNA Test Links Ikorodu Morgue Body to EndSARS Journalist Pelumi Onifade
A DNA test has confirmed that an unidentified body deposited at a morgue in Ikorodu belongs to Pelumi Onifade, the journalist who went missing during the October 2020 #EndSARS protests.
The development emerged during ongoing coroner proceedings in Lagos, where forensic findings tied the body—previously labelled and stored without clear identification—to Onifade through DNA samples obtained from his family.
Onifade, a reporter with Gboah TV, was last seen alive in police custody on October 24, 2020, while covering unrest in the Agege area of Lagos. His disappearance triggered widespread outrage among journalists and rights groups, who accused authorities of failing to account for his whereabouts.
Evidence presented at the inquest indicates that the body linked to him had been deposited at the Ikorodu General Hospital mortuary shortly after the protests, forming a central part of the judicial investigation into his death.
The confirmation marks a critical turning point in a case that has remained unresolved for years, with courts previously ordering autopsy and DNA reports to establish both identity and cause of death.
The killing of Onifade is among the most prominent cases associated with the EndSARS protests, a nationwide movement against police brutality. His death has drawn sustained calls from local and international press freedom organisations for accountability and justice.
As of press time, authorities have not announced any prosecutions linked to the case, while the coroner’s inquest continues to determine the full circumstances surrounding his death.
