Police Fire Tear Gas at Activists, Journalists at Sixth #EndSARS Anniversary

Police have fired tear gas at opposition politicians, activists and journalists gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests.

The memorial gathering, organised to honour victims of the 2020 demonstrations against police brutality, descended into chaos as security operatives dispersed participants.

Among those at the scene was Funsho Doherty, the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Lagos State, alongside other opposition figures and activists who had gathered to lay wreaths in memory of those who lost their lives during the protests.

The police action disrupted the remembrance exercise, leaving participants struggling amid tear gas and heightened tension.

Journalists covering the event were also caught up in the incident, raising concerns about the safety of media practitioners reporting on public gatherings.

The development has renewed questions about the protection of citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and the ability of journalists to cover commemorative events without interference.

The #EndSARS protests erupted in October 2020, as thousands of young Nigerians took to the streets to demand an end to police brutality, particularly abuses associated with the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

The Lekki Toll Gate became a focal point of the demonstrations and remains a significant site for annual commemorations by activists and other Nigerians calling for police accountability and respect for human rights.