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‘Let us bury him,’ mother of slain #EndSARS journalist pleads six years later
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

‘Let us bury him,’ mother of slain #EndSARS journalist pleads six years later

From Vanguard · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • Six years after his death during the #EndSARS protests, the mother of journalist Pelumi Onifade is appealing for his body to be released for burial.
  • A coroner's inquest confirmed the identity of the body through DNA evidence matching his mother's sample.
  • Onifade disappeared on October 24, 2020, while covering protests in Lagos and was allegedly shot by police taskforce operatives.

Lagos, Nigeria – Six years after journalist Pelumi Onifade died during the #EndSARS protests, his mother, Bosede Onifade, is pleading with authorities to release his body for burial. A coroner's inquest, ordered by a Federal High Court in August 2024, confirmed the identity of a body held in a mortuary as Pelumi's through DNA evidence matching his mother's sample.

We want them to release his body. If they have already killed him, they should give his body to us to bury.

— Bosede OnifadePelumi Onifade's mother pleads for the release of her son's remains for burial after his identity was confirmed.

Pelumi, a 20-year-old mass communication student and intern with Gboah TV, vanished on October 24, 2020, while covering the #EndSARS protests in Abule Egba, Lagos. Eyewitnesses reported that he was shot before operatives of the Lagos State Police Taskforce allegedly took him away with arrested protesters.

"We want them to release his body. If they have already killed him, they should give his body to us to bury," Bosede told The Guardian. She expressed her devastation, stating, "He was not doing anything wrong. Even if he was doing something wrong, they could have arrested him and not kill him in cold blood."

He was not doing anything wrong. Even if he was doing something wrong, they could have arrested him and not kill him in cold blood.

— Bosede OnifadeBosede Onifade expresses her grief and anger over her son's death during the #EndSARS protests.

The six-year wait for justice has taken a severe emotional toll on Bosede, leading to depression and memory lapses. She struggles to support Pelumi's two younger sisters with proceeds from selling homemade ogi (pap). "They said they would give families of the victims some money, but will it bring my son back to life?" she questioned, adding that the compensation, if received, would at least help care for his siblings. Bosede remains resolute in honoring her son, insisting she will always identify herself as "Mama Pelumi."

They said they would give families of the victims some money, but will it bring my son back to life?

— Bosede OnifadeOnifade questions the value of compensation compared to the return of her son's life.

The #EndSARS protests, which began in October 2020, initially targeted police brutality and abuses by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The movement evolved into broader calls for police reform, accountability, and good governance across Nigeria.

But at least we can use it to take care of his siblings. I know that whatever Pelumi couldn’t do for us, his siblings would.

— Bosede OnifadeShe reflects on how any potential compensation could benefit her remaining children.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Vanguard. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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