1 week Ago By Ayobamiji Komolafe
The officers of the Lagos State Police Command on Sunday fired teargas to disperse protesters marking the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests at the Lekki Toll Gate. In a videos circulating online, it could be seen as protesters fleeing as the police fired shots, creating chaos at the scene. The protest began around 8:30 am, with demonstrators carrying banners and placards, demanding the full implementation of the recommendations from various judicial panels of inquiry set up after the 2020 protests.
Protesters were calling for justice and accountability for the alleged killings and human rights violations committed by officers of the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). One protester, identified as Excel, recounted how he fell into a gutter while trying to escape from the teargas. Another protester, Bayo Are, mentioned that while he suffered only minor scratches, others had been arrested during the protest.
In response, Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin stated that the police acted to prevent traffic disruption. He explained that minimal force was used to disperse the protesters after they refused to vacate the area when instructed to do so. It would be recalled that the #EndSARS movement, which began in October 2020, saw thousands of Nigerian youths protest against police brutality, particularly targeting SARS.
The protests reached a climax at the Lekki Toll Gate, where several demonstrators were allegedly killed by military personnel. Nearly four years later, many of the judicial panels’ recommendations remain unimplemented. This neglect has sparked continued discontent among protest leaders and participants.
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