Ebun Olowu
A 20-year-old journalist, Pelumi Onifade, was allegedly murdered after he was arrested by Lagos task force, while reporting on palliative looting at Oko Oba area of Agege, Lagos
Pelumi Onifade, a 100 Level undergraduate of History Department, Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), was initially reported missing..
His body was, however, found in a morgue about a week after a serious search by his family.
According to reports, Pelumi was working for Gboah TV, an online television outfit, prior to his death, and he was arrested on October 24 2020, at the Abbatoir, Oko Oba area of Agege, Lagos, while on duty
A GoFundMe fundraising site organised by Tolu Bamiro described how the incident happened:
“On 24th of October 2020, there was a crowd in a compound at Oko-oba, Agege. Onifade Pelumi and his colleague were sent as media personnel to know what exactly was going on in that area. While in an interview with the residents, they said ”we are hungry, we want this soldiers to leave so we can carry our food, this food is for Covid-19”.Apparently, they believed the Covid-19 was stored in a warehouse close to the compound.
“During the interview Taskforce Officers came with cutlasses, throwing bottles and shooting live bullets as they attack the crowd. Out of fear, the crowd including Onifade Pelumi ran for their lives.
“In a short while, his colleague saw that Pelumi Onifade had already been injured and was being carried by 4 Taskforce Officers into their Van(Black Maria), his colleague tried to defend him showing his ID Card and making them understand that he was putting on a GBOAH TV jacket, they threatened him with a cutlass and cocked their Gun at him.
“A thorough search was conducted from Police Stations to Prisons all over Lagos state for 4days (Saturday 24th to Tuesday 27th) after which a ‘Missing Person’ Graphics was shared across all social media platforms to aid the search of Onifade Pelumi which went viral.
“That same evening of Tuesday 27th of October, the head of Taskforce Lagos State called, saying he saw the post, and they agreed to meet on Wednesday 28th of October at the State Headquarters, Ikeja. After the meeting with task force, the officer that led the squad said that they arrested 5 people at the Ministry of Agriculture Abattoir, Oko-Oba, Agege, but 1 person died and they have dumped his corpse at Ikorodu Mortuary.
“They scheduled a meeting for Thursday to confirm if his name was in the list of those arrested, if not they will go to the mortuary at Ikorodu to confirm. Due to the public holiday on Thursday the appointment was rescheduled for Friday.
“On Friday Morning they got to Ikorodu and behold it was Pelumi Onifade’s Corpse.
“We are not against the police; police reform is a fight in the country.
“At age 20, he was the bread winner of his family that consist of his father, mother and 2 junior sisters, responsible in his church and also a member of the Boys’ Brigade, because of this we would like people to help out anyway they can”.
A statement by Ghoah TV read in part:
“The Police are currently investigating the matter and have assured the management, the family and community that the investigation will be thorough and swift.
“Onifade Pelumi died while covering the scenes at the site of the palliative storage center.
“He will be deeply missed!
“Further details will be released upon completion of the Investigation by Police Force.
Pelumi Onifade who filmed this event is dead but Abiodun Bolarinwa, the one who opened fire on #EndSARS protesters at Abule Egba is free and breathing fine.
How's that Lagos Judicial Panel going?
— Wọlé Odùwọlé (@woldezzy) November 3, 2020
https://twitter.com/i/status/1323694276992184322
https://twitter.com/i/status/1324020383427760128
