Some protesters gathered at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos on Sunday to mark the fourth anniversary of the EndSARS protests and were arrested by police.
The demonstrators, who assembled in remembrance of the October 20, 2020, shootings, carried placards and chanted songs to honor the victims of the military crackdown during the protests against police brutality.
The EndSARS protests initially called for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) due to widespread allegations of brutality and abuse.
Despite the eventual dissolution of SARS, the protests persisted, with the Lekki Tollgate becoming a focal point for the movement. On October 20, 2020, soldiers were deployed to the area, and witnesses reported gunfire that led to multiple deaths.
The Nigerian military and federal authorities have consistently denied the killings, but Amnesty International reported that at least 12 protesters were shot dead.
On Sunday morning, as protesters gathered at the tollgate for the anniversary, police attempted to disperse them by using teargas and firing warning shots. Some of the protesters were arrested during the operation.
According to the information made available, Amnesty International condemned the arrests, calling them “an unacceptable suppression of peaceful assembly,” echoing the organizations long-standing criticism of the Nigerian government’s handling of the EndSARS movement.
Despite government efforts to end the protests in 2020, the movement remains a symbol of resistance against police brutality and calls for greater accountability in governance. The Lekki Tollgate, in particular, has become a historic site of remembrance for many Nigerians.
