EndSARS Anniversary: Police Fire Tear Gas As Protesters Gather At Lekki Toll Gate

Police operatives on Tuesday reportedly fired tear gas to disperse Nigerians who gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos to mark the sixth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests against police brutality.

The gathering, organised by the Enough is Enough (EiE) movement, was aimed at honouring victims of the October 2020 demonstrations and renewing calls for justice, accountability and comprehensive police reforms.

Footage circulating online showed participants fleeing in different directions as tear gas filled the area, disrupting the memorial event.

The incident reportedly forced the gathering to end abruptly before participants could lay wreaths in honour of those who lost their lives during the 2020 protests.

Among those present at the toll gate were Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, and Funso Doherty, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate.

A woman was also seen struggling to breathe amid the commotion, with some participants reportedly assisting her with an inhaler.

The development occurred as Nigerians gathered to remember victims of the #EndSARS protests, which began in October 2020 following widespread outrage over alleged police brutality, extortion, harassment and extrajudicial killings, particularly those associated with the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The demonstrations, driven largely by young Nigerians, spread across several parts of the country and attracted international attention, with protesters demanding an end to police abuses and far-reaching reforms of the nation’s security institutions.

The Lekki Toll Gate became one of the major centres of the protests, particularly on October 20, 2020, when soldiers opened fire during a demonstration at the location. The incident triggered widespread condemnation and sustained calls for accountability.

Amnesty International reported that its investigation found that security forces killed at least 12 peaceful protesters at Lekki and Alausa in Lagos during the October 20 incident. The circumstances surrounding the shootings have remained a major subject of public debate and demands for justice.

Although the Federal Government announced the disbandment of SARS in October 2020, calls for accountability for alleged abuses, compensation for victims and comprehensive police reforms have continued.

The sixth-anniversary gathering was part of ongoing efforts by activists and civil society organisations to keep the demands of the #EndSARS movement alive and ensure that the experiences of victims are not forgotten.

Video credit: TheCable.