Forensic Findings and Cause of Death

A postmortem examination conducted by the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) has confirmed that journalist Pelumi Onifade died from a firearm injury to the abdomen sustained during the #EndSARS protests in Lagos in October 2020. According to the nine-page postmortem report, Onifade, a journalist with Gboah TV, suffered a penetrating firearm injury which caused extensive damage to his internal organs and massive internal bleeding.

The report, issued by LASUTH and finalised on July 30, 2026, explicitly identified the medical cause of death. The examination was authorised by the Coroner, Mrs. Bola Folarin-Williams, and was conducted at the LASUTH morgue on November 4, 2020, by Consultant Pathologist Professor Sunday Sokunle Soyemi, with Professor John Oladapo Obafunwa, Supervising Consultant, in attendance.

Massive haemoperitoneum and penetrating firearms injury to the abdomen.

— LASUTH Postmortem Report, Forensic Findings, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital

Identification and Pathological Observations

The deceased was identified as Pelumi Onifade, whose body was tagged No 1385, based on DNA analysis provided by the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre. The pathologist noted that the examination revealed bony spicules embedded in the soft tissue of the abdomen, a finding consistent with a penetrating firearm injury. The report also recorded a fracture of the fifth lumbar vertebrae.

The medical team established the trajectory of the projectile as posterior-to-anterior, right-to-left, and infero-superior. This indicates that the projectile entered the body from behind, moving through the lower abdomen and pelvis towards the upper part of the body and from the right side towards the left. The injuries were described as being consistent with a firearm injury involving the ricochet of a missile within the abdominal cavity.

External examinations of the body noted that the journalist’s face was clean-shaven and his mouth contained a set of natural teeth in good repair. The report further observed that his fingernails and toenails were short and well-kept, with no identifiable nicotine staining or external evidence of significant natural disease, scars, or tattoos.

Legal Battle and Judicial Directives

The release of the autopsy findings follows a legal battle by Media Rights Agenda (MRA) over the circumstances surrounding Onifade’s death. The organisation sued the Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police Force, seeking a formal investigation. On July 19, 2024, Justice Ayokunle Olayinka Faji of the Federal High Court in Lagos directed the Attorney-General of Lagos State to take all necessary steps to investigate the case.

The court also mandated that a coroner’s inquest be conducted to ascertain the cause of death and identify those responsible for prosecution. Consequently, the Lagos State Government convened a Coroner Court to investigate the death, leading to the submission of this postmortem report as evidence. Further proceedings in the coroner’s inquest have been adjourned to October 6, 2026, to continue examining the circumstances surrounding the death of the journalist.