A postmortem report by the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) has revealed that journalist Pelumi Onifade, who was reportedly shot and arrested while covering the EndSARS protest in Lagos on October 24, 2020, died from a penetrating firearm injury to his abdomen.
The finding was contained in a press statement issued in Lagos on Thursday, September 17, 2026, by Idowu Adewale, Communications Officer of Media Rights Agenda (MRA), which said the postmortem report established that a firearm projectile entered Onifade’s body through his lower back, causing extensive abdominal damage and massive internal bleeding.
According to Adewale, the nine-page postmortem report was based on an examination 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.
He said the examination was conducted with the authorisation of the Coroner, Mrs. Bola Folarin-Williams, while the report was eventually finalised and signed on July 30, 2026.
Adewale said the autopsy report had been submitted to the Coroner Court constituted by the Lagos State Government to investigate the circumstances surrounding Onifade’s death.
The inquest followed a legal action instituted by MRA against the Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police Force, seeking an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the journalist’s death.
He added that Justice Ayokunle Olayinka Faji of the Federal High Court in Lagos, in a judgment delivered on July 19, 2024, directed the Attorney-General of Lagos State to take all necessary steps to investigate Onifade’s death and conduct a coroner’s inquest.
The judge also directed that the inquest should ascertain the cause of death and identify and prosecute those responsible, according to the statement.
Adewale said the postmortem report identified the body, tagged No. 1385, as that of Onifade through DNA analysis provided by the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre.
The report listed the cause of death as “Massive haemoperitoneum” and “Penetrating firearms injury to the abdomen.”
According to the statement, the massive haemoperitoneum indicated that a very large quantity of blood had accumulated inside the abdominal cavity as a result of the injuries sustained.
The pathologist reportedly found internal injuries “consistent with a firearm injury to the abdomen with the ricochet of the missile.”
The report also documented “bony spicules embedded in the soft tissue of the abdomen”, which it said were consistent with a penetrating firearm injury, as well as a fracture of the fifth lumbar vertebrae.
Adewale said the pathologist established that the projectile travelled in a “posterior-to-anterior, right-to-left and infero-superior” trajectory.
This meant that the projectile entered Onifade’s body from behind and travelled from the lower part of his body towards the upper part, while moving from the right side towards the left.
The postmortem examination, according to the statement, found no external evidence of significant natural disease.
The pathologist also documented that Onifade’s face was clean shaven, his ears had not been pierced for jewellery, his mouth contained a set of natural teeth in good condition, while his fingernails and toenails were short, clean and well kept.
The report further noted the absence of identifiable nicotine staining on the fingers, as well as scars, tattoos or other distinguishing marks.
Adewale said the forensic medical findings ultimately established that Onifade sustained fatal injuries after a firearm projectile entered his abdominal region, causing extensive internal damage and haemorrhage.
The circumstances surrounding the journalist’s death are now before the Coroner Court, with further proceedings in the inquest adjourned until October 6, 2026.
