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•No Nigerian should be punished for demanding good governance — Obi
Police yesterday fired tear gas to disperse politicians, activists, journalists and other Nigerians gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos to mark the sixth anniversary of the October 20, 2020, #EndSARS protests, disrupting a wreath-laying ceremony organised in memory of victims.
Among those caught in the disruption were the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, and his Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) counterpart, Funso Doherty, who joined other participants at the memorial organised by the Enough is Enough movement.
The police intervention prevented the organisers from laying wreaths in honour of those who lost their lives during the protests against police brutality. Some participants reportedly sustained injuries, while others experienced breathing difficulties after inhaling tear gas.
The organisers had reportedly brought 15 wreaths for the ceremony, including one dedicated to Pelumi Onifade, a journalist who died during the 2020 protests.
Footage from the scene showed journalists interviewing Rhodes-Vivour and Doherty before the police intervention forced participants to scramble for safety.
The incident has renewed concerns over the handling of anniversary commemorations at the toll gate and the continuing demands for justice and accountability over the 2020 shootings.
Meanwhile, former Anambra State governor and NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called for justice, accountability and respect for the rights of Nigerians to demand good governance without intimidation or violence.
In a message marking the sixth anniversary of the protests, Obi described the events of October 2020 as a painful reminder of the sacrifices made by young Nigerians who took to the streets to demand an end to police brutality and a more accountable system of government.
He said the deaths and injuries recorded during the protests continued to raise fundamental questions about justice, accountability and the value placed on human life.
According to him, remembering the victims should go beyond annual ceremonies to a renewed commitment to protecting citizens’ rights and ensuring that public officials exercise their powers responsibly.
“Nigeria must become a nation where no citizen is punished for demanding good governance and a better future,” Obi declared.
The former governor stressed that Nigerians should be able to express their grievances, demand reforms and participate in peaceful civic activities without fear of intimidation or violence.
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He urged public officials to protect the voices of young people and recognise that demands for accountability were legitimate expressions of democratic citizenship.
Obi also expressed hope that the memory of those who died during the protests would strengthen efforts to prevent a recurrence of the events that triggered the nationwide demonstrations.
The #EndSARS protests began in October 2020 as a campaign against brutality, extortion, unlawful detention and other abuses associated with the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force.
The demonstrations, which initially demanded the disbandment of SARS, soon developed into a nationwide movement calling for broader police reforms, justice for victims of abuse and greater accountability in governance.
The Lekki Toll Gate emerged as one of the major centres of the protests, attracting thousands of young Nigerians who gathered to press their demands.
On October 20, 2020, soldiers opened fire during a military operation at the protest venue, triggering national and international outrage and controversy.
The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry later concluded that protesters were shot, injured and killed during the operation, although the state government disputed key aspects of the panel’s findings concerning fatalities.
Controversies surrounding the shootings, the number of casualties and accountability for the operation have remained central to discussions about the protests.
Anniversary gatherings at the toll gate have also witnessed confrontations between security personnel and participants, including police dispersals in 2021 and 2024.
Tuesday’s incident has added another chapter to the dispute over the right to commemorate the victims and the authorities’ handling of gatherings at the site.
Six years after the protests, campaigners continue to demand justice for victims, accountability for abuses and the implementation of reforms to prevent police brutality.
The disruption of yesterday’s memorial has once again raised questions about the protection of citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly, particularly after participants were dispersed before completing a ceremony intended to honour the dead.
