Officers of the Lagos State Police Command fired tear gas to disperse protesters gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate to mark the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS protest On Sunday, October 20.
The demonstrators arrived around 8:30 a.m., holding banners and placards demanding the full implementation of the judicial panels’ recommendations established after the 2020 protests.
The judicial panels, set up across various states, were tasked with investigating police brutality and addressing the demands of the #EndSARS protesters.
Despite the panels findings, many protest leaders expressed frustration over the government’s failure to fully implement the recommendations, particularly in areas of police reform and compensation for victims of police violence.
As the police deployed tear gas, protesters were seen fleeing the scene.
Reports also surfaced of shots being fired.
One protester, identified as Iyanu, recounted his experience: “They have started firing tear gas at us.
I fell into the gutter; I was a hit on the head.”
Another protester, Kachi Igwe, confirmed he had been hit but sustained only minor injuries, saying, “I’m not really injured, just a few scratches on my body.
Some people have also been arrested.”
The #EndSARS movement, which began in October 2020, saw thousands of young Nigerians protesting against police brutality, with a focus on the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The protests led to a violent crackdown at the Lekki Toll Gate, where military intervention resulted in deaths and injuries among demonstrators.
In response to Sunday’s events, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, defended the police’s actions, explaining that officers intervened to prevent traffic disruptions.
“They were told to disperse, but they were adamant.
We had to use minimal force to disperse them,” Hundeyin said, denying any major confrontation with the protesters.
