Six years after the #EndSARS protests, Nigerians took to the streets on Tuesday to honour victims of the 2020 demonstrations and renew calls for justice and police reforms.
But the commemoration at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos was disrupted when police reportedly fired tear gas to disperse activists and other participants, forcing them to flee.
Among those at the gathering were Lagos governorship candidates of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Funso Doherty, and the African Democratic Congress, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.
Despite the disruption, activists reaffirmed their demand for accountability and comprehensive police reforms, insisting that the sacrifices of the #EndSARS movement must not be forgotten.
The incident has renewed concerns over citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
The #EndSARS protests erupted in October 2020 following widespread allegations of brutality by the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS. The demonstrations spread across the country, with the Lekki Toll Gate emerging as a focal point.
On October 20, 2020, soldiers opened fire on protesters at the toll gate, in an incident that remains contentious, particularly over casualties and accountability.
The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry later found that protesters were shot at, injured and killed, although the state government disputed key aspects of the panel’s findings.
The anniversary has also witnessed confrontations in subsequent years. In 2021, police fired tear gas during a memorial procession, while similar incidents were reported in 2024 as demonstrators demanded the implementation of recommendations made by judicial panels.
Although the protests led to the disbandment of SARS in October 2020, demands for justice, compensation for victims and broader police reforms have persisted.
Six years on, the latest confrontation at the Lekki Toll Gate has once again brought the movement’s unfinished demands into focus, raising questions about accountability and the protection of Nigerians’ right to peaceful protest.
