Security personnel unleashed tear gas on attendees, which included two governorship aspirants and members of the press, just as the gathering commenced ahead of a scheduled wreath-laying ceremony.
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Lagos, and Funso Doherty, who is seeking the same office on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), were among those affected.
The gathering, organised by the Enough is Enough (EiE) movement to mark the sixth anniversary of the anti-police brutality protests, was brought to an abrupt halt when officers, who had arrived at the tollgate before the participants, fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.
The intervention sent residents, journalists and other participants scrambling for safety, forcing the organisers to abandon the planned wreath-laying ceremony.
Some participants reportedly sustained injuries, while others struggled to breathe amid the tear gas.
The disruption also caused traffic to build up along the busy expressway.
The organisers had brought 15 wreaths to the venue to honour those who died during the protests, including Pelumi Onifade, a journalist who was shot dead in Lagos during the nationwide demonstrations.
The incident occurred on the anniversary of the October 20, 2020, events at the tollgate, which became a defining moment in the nationwide protests against police brutality and the activities of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The Lekki incident remains one of the most contentious episodes of the protests. It attracted international attention and intensified calls for accountability over the use of force by security agencies.
According to the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry’s report on the incident, nine people were confirmed dead, while four others were listed as missing and presumed dead.
Those identified as dead were Victor Sunday Ibanga, Abuta Solomon, Jide, Olalekan Abideen Ashafa, Olamilekan Ajasa, Kolade Salami, Folorunsho Olabisi, Kenechukwu Ugoh and Nathaniel Solomon.
The four listed as missing and presumed dead were Abiodun Adesanya, Ifeanyi Nicholas Eji, Tola and Wisdom.
The #EndSARS protests began as a nationwide movement against police brutality, extortion, unlawful arrests and alleged abuses by SARS.
The demonstrations prompted the Federal Government to announce the disbandment of the unit in October 2020.
However, the Lekki tollgate shooting and the circumstances surrounding deaths and injuries during the protests have continued to fuel demands for justice and accountability.
What You Should Know
Security forces disrupted a commemorative gathering at the Lekki Tollgate meant to honour victims of the 2020 EndSARS protests, firing tear gas that affected prominent figures, journalists, and residents.
- Positive Impact: Provides a transparent public reminder of the historical event and ongoing demands for civic accountability.
- Potential Concerns: Highlights ongoing tensions between security agencies and citizens exercising their right to peaceful assembly, risking renewed civil unrest and disruption of public safety.
