Nigeria marks sixth anniversary of #EndSARS protests

Nigerians are marking the sixth anniversary of the #EndSARS movement, which began in October 2020 as a nationwide protest against police brutality and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad. On the anniversary, police officers used tear gas to disperse a memorial gathering organized by the Enough is Enough movement at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos. The disruption prevented participants, including political figures such as Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and Funso Doherty, from conducting a planned wreath-laying ceremony to honor victims of the 2020 shootings.

Demands for accountability remain central to the commemorations. The Youth Rights Campaign has called for the prosecution of Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, retired Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, and other senior officials regarding the Lekki Toll Gate incident. Political figures, including Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, have also used the anniversary to criticize the government for failing to provide transparency regarding who ordered the use of force against protesters.

Beyond the calls for justice, the anniversary highlights the economic impact of the movement. The suspension of toll collection at the Lekki Toll Gate following the protests has resulted in significant lost revenue for the Lagos State Government, estimated by some to be in the billions of naira, while providing financial relief to motorists.