Bosede Onifade, a mother from Lagos, Nigeria, has spent six years seeking justice for her son Pelumi, a 20-year-old journalism intern killed during the #EndSars protests in October 2020. His body has never been released, and no one has been held responsible for his death.
The Day Pelumi Went Missing
On October 24, 2020, Pelumi Onifade left home excited to cover the #EndSars demonstrations for Gboah TV. The protests, which began as a call to disband the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), had escalated into a nationwide movement against police brutality and poor governance. Witnesses say Pelumi was filming in Abule Egba, Lagos State, when he was hit by a bullet fired by members of the Lagos police taskforce. He was then dragged into a van along with arrested protesters.
His mother, Bosede, searched frantically with family and friends. On October 30, a relative found Pelumi's body in a morgue in Ikorodu, 37 kilometers north of Lagos. But by the time the family arrived, the body had disappeared. "We want them to release his body. If they have already killed him, they should give his body to us to bury," Bosede said, sobbing.
A Legal Battle with No Resolution
The family has attended judicial panels of inquiry, provided DNA samples, and participated in court hearings, all to no avail. In 2020, then-federal police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi said Pelumi's death had been reported to a panel investigating police brutality. In 2024, the Lagos State government told the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) that an internal investigation was underway.
On June 24, 2026, a coroner's inquest confirmed that body tag 1385, seen at the mortuary, was Pelumi, matching his mother's DNA sample. The case has been adjourned twice, with the next hearing set for July 29.
The Broader Context of the #EndSars Protests
The #EndSars protests erupted in October 2020, with thousands demanding the disbandment of SARS, a police unit notorious for extrajudicial killings, kidnapping, robbery, and rape. The protests lasted over two weeks across major Nigerian cities. The government disbanded SARS on October 11, replacing it with the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, but public distrust remained high.
Authorities responded with force, including the Lekki massacre, where security forces opened fire on protesters, killing at least 12 and injuring many more. Amnesty International reported at least 56 deaths during the protests. Then-information minister Lai Mohammed denied the Lekki killings, calling it a "phantom massacre." A judicial report later found security forces responsible, but no one has been held accountable.
Impact on the Family
Bosede describes Pelumi as a "gentle and responsible boy" who was loved by everyone. He was a second-year mass communication student and the eldest of three siblings. The lack of closure has taken a toll on her health: she has lost weight, suffers from memory lapses, and battles depression. "If this is what those in government do to other people's children, one day they will have a taste of their medicine," she said, quoting a Yoruba adage about divine judgment.
Isa Sanusi, director of Amnesty International in Nigeria, condemned the government's inaction: "The fact that the government is not yielding to this basic demand of his family shows utter disdain for the pain of a victim of atrocity and his family." He added that Pelumi's case reflects the broader threat journalists face when covering peaceful protests.
Bosede survives on selling homemade ogi, a maize-based paste, while her husband's electrician business struggles. She insists on being called "Mama Pelumi," saying his name will never depart from her household. "They said they would give families of the victims some money, but will it bring my son back to life?" she asked, shaking her head.
