In October 2020 a large number of young Nigerians took to the streets demanding an end to police brutality and it was tagged the ENDSARS movement, this remains a defining moment in Nigeria’s recent history. The ENDSARS protests gained momentum in October 2020 following renewed outrage over alleged abuses of power by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a police unit accused of unlawful arrests, extortion, torture and extrajudicial killings. What initially began as a demand to end SARS quickly grew into a nationwide call for police accountability, justice and better governance, although the Federal Government announced the disbandment of SARS in October 2020, the movement’s most painful moment came on October 20, when soldiers opened fire on protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos.
The incident, which became widely known as the Lekki shootings, left Nigerians demanding answers about casualties, accountability and the treatment of peaceful demonstrators. After investigations, the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry subsequently found that protesters were shot at, injured and killed, although the state government disputed key aspects of the panel’s findings. Six years later, calls for justice, compensation and comprehensive police reforms remain central to the movement’s legacy.
Today, Tuesday October 20, 2026, activists and concerned Nigerians gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate to commemorate the sixth anniversary and honour those who lost their lives during the protests, however the planned memorial was disrupted when police officers fired tear gas to disperse the gathering, forcing participants to flee before they could complete the wreath laying ceremony. Among those present were Lagos governorship aspirants Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Funso Doherty of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), alongside activist Yemi Adamolekun.
The Nigerian police force reportedly cited public safety and the need to maintain access for road users, while participants renewed their calls for justice and police reform. The incident has once again raised questions about the right of Nigerian citizens to peaceful assembly and the handling of public commemorations. Six years after ENDSARS, the anniversary is not only a moment to remember the events surrounding 20th of October 2020 but also an opportunity to examine how far Nigeria has come in addressing the grievances that brought thousands of young people onto the streets.
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