Journalist Pelumi Onifade, a young reporter with Gboah TV who was reportedly shot and arrested while covering the #EndSARS protest on October 24, 2020, died from a fatal firearm injury to the abdomen, according to a postmortem report issued by the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
According to a statement issued by Media Rights Agenda, the nine-page report stated that a “firearm projectile” entered Onifade’s body through his lower back, causing extensive abdominal injuries and massive internal bleeding.
The postmortem examination 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.
The examination was authorised by the Coroner, Mrs Bola Folarin-Williams, while the report was finalised and signed on July 30, 2026.
The report identified the body, tagged No. 1385, as that of Onifade based on DNA analysis provided by the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre.
It listed the “Cause of Death” as “Massive haemoperitoneum” and “Penetrating firearms injury to the abdomen.”
The report explained that the massive haemoperitoneum resulted from a large quantity of blood accumulating inside the abdominal cavity following the internal injuries.
The pathologist said the injuries were “consistent with a firearm injury to the abdomen with the ricochet of the missile.”
The postmortem also revealed “bony spicules embedded in the soft tissue of the abdomen”, which were consistent with a penetrating firearm injury, as well as a “fracture of the fifth lumbar vertebrae”.
According to the report, the trajectory of the missile was “posterior-to-anterior, right-to-left and infero-superior”, indicating that the projectile entered the body from behind and travelled through the lower part of the body towards the upper part, moving from the right side towards the left.
The external examination recorded that Onifade’s “face is clean shaven”, his “ears have not been pierced for jewellery”, while his “mouth contains a set of natural teeth in good state of repair”.
The pathologist further noted that his “finger nails are short, clean and well kept”, there was “no identifiable nicotine staining of the fingers”, and his “toe nails are also short, clean and well kept”.
The examination also found no “external evidence of significant natural disease” and recorded that there were no scars, tattoos or other identifying marks.
The autopsy report has now been submitted to the Coroner Court convened by the Lagos State Government following an order of the Federal High Court in Lagos to investigate the circumstances surrounding Onifade’s death.
The inquest followed a suit filed by Media Rights Agenda against the Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police Force, seeking, among other reliefs, an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the journalist’s death.
In a judgment delivered on July 19, 2024, Justice Ayokunle Olayinka Faji directed the Attorney-General of Lagos State to take all necessary steps to ensure an investigation into the circumstances of Onifade’s death and conduct a coroner’s inquest to determine the cause of death and identify and prosecute those responsible.
The report concluded that the forensic medical evidence showed that the fatal injuries resulted from a firearm projectile entering the abdominal region and causing extensive internal damage and haemorrhage.
Further proceedings in the coroner’s inquest have been adjourned to October 6, 2026.
