Operatives of the Nigerian Police Force reportedly fired shots and tear gas on Sunday to disperse protesters gathered at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos State. The demonstrators had assembled to mark the fourth anniversary of the tragic #EndSARS protests against police brutality in October 2020.
Eyewitnesses reported that the peaceful procession was disrupted when police officers began firing into the air and deploying tear gas to forcefully disperse the crowd. Several protesters fled, and at least two individuals were arrested during the incident.
A source confirmed the arrests to SaharaReporters, but the identities of those detained remain unknown at this time. The police have yet to issue an official statement regarding the use of force at the memorial gathering.
The Lekki Tollgate holds significant importance as the site of the October 20, 2020 shooting, when security forces allegedly opened fire on unarmed protesters. The nationwide #EndSARS movement aimed to end police harassment, extortion, and brutality, particularly by the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
Despite the establishment of judicial panels to review the demands of the #EndSARS protesters, many activists have expressed frustration that the panels’ recommendations have not been fully implemented, almost four years later.
