Francis Iwuchukwu
Officers of the Lagos State Police Command used tear gas to disperse a group of protesters who gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate on Sunday morning to mark the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests.
The rally aimed to commemorate the 2020 demonstrations against police brutality and call for the full implementation of recommendations from judicial panels of inquiry.
Videos circulating on social media showed protesters running for cover as police officers fired shots and tear gas to break up the gathering.
The protesters, who arrived at the tollgate around 8:30 am, displayed banners and placards urging the government to act on the findings of the panels set up after the 2020 protests.
In October 2020, thousands of Nigerian youths took to the streets in major cities, including Lagos, to protest against the harassment, extortion, and violence by officers of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The demonstrations reached a climax at the Lekki Toll Gate, where several protesters were reportedly killed, and many others injured when the Nigerian military intervened.
Following the protests, judicial panels were established across various states to address the grievances and review the actions of law enforcement.
However, nearly four years later, protest leaders claim that many of the panels' recommendations have not been implemented.
One protester, who identified himself as Excel, said, “They have started firing tear gas at us. I fell into the gutter; I was hit on the head.”
Another protester, Bayo Are, reported being struck as well but said he only suffered minor scratches.
“Some people have also been arrested,” he added.
When contacted, Benjamin Hundeyin, the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, stated that there was no confrontation with the protesters, but that the police had to act to prevent disruptions to traffic at the tollgate.
"They were asked to disperse, but they were adamant; we had to use minimal force to disperse them,” Hundeyin explained.
The anniversary protest highlighted ongoing frustrations among #EndSARS activists over the government's perceived lack of action on the judicial panels' recommendations.
Despite the police's efforts to clear the area, the demonstrators' message was clear: they are still seeking accountability, justice, and the fulfilment of promises made in the wake of the 2020 protests.
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