Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi have renewed calls for justice and accountability as Nigeria marks six years since the October 20, 2020, Lekki Toll Gate shootings during the #EndSARS protests.
Their statements came as police fired tear gas to disperse a memorial gathering at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, disrupting a wreath laying ceremony organised to honour victims of the protests.
The gathering, organised by the Enough is Enough movement, brought together activists, journalists, political figures and other Nigerians seeking to remember those who lost their lives and renew calls for an end to police brutality.
Among those affected by the police action were Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour, Lagos governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, and Funso Doherty of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
The incident sparked fresh concerns about the right to peaceful assembly and the continued struggle for justice over the events of October 2020.
Atiku Asks Who Gave the Order
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, questioned why Nigerians were still waiting for clear answers about the Lekki shootings six years later.
He asked who authorised the use of force against protesters who had gathered to demand an end to police brutality.
Atiku criticised the response of President Bola Tinubu, who made comments about the protesters and the casualties recorded during the incident in October 2020.
According to Atiku, the response appeared to focus more on questioning the protesters than demanding answers from those responsible for the violence.
He argued that the All Progressives Congress, which has governed Nigeria since 2015, must address the unanswered questions surrounding the shootings rather than allow the memory of the victims to fade.
Atiku also linked the unresolved tragedy to the difficulties facing young Nigerians, including rising living costs, high petrol prices, declining purchasing power and limited economic opportunities.
He said young people deserved both the truth about Lekki and an economy in which hard work could lead to a better life.
The former vice president called for responsible leadership, accountability and economic policies that would ease the burden on workers, students and struggling families.
His proposed economic recovery measures include increased local production, support for minimum wage earners, assistance for students and reduced government waste.
Obi Says Nigeria Must Never Forget
Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, also called on Nigerians to preserve the memory of the Lekki Toll Gate shootings and honour the sacrifices made by young people during the #EndSARS protests.
Obi described the anniversary as a painful reminder of the price Nigerian youths paid while demanding a better country, an end to police brutality and improved governance.
He said the events of October 20, 2020, left the country with serious questions about justice, accountability and the value placed on human life.
Obi warned against allowing injustice to become normal in Nigeria and urged leaders to ensure that citizens could demand good governance without fear of violence.
He maintained that the country must never forget the victims or silence the voices of young Nigerians who stood up against police abuse.
The former Anambra State governor also renewed his call for a Nigeria where government power is exercised responsibly, citizens are protected and people are not punished for demanding a better future.
For Obi, the anniversary should not be limited to mourning those who died. It should also serve as a reminder that Nigeria must build a society where peaceful protest is respected and human rights are protected.
Police Tear Gas Disrupts Memorial
The calls for justice came as police action disrupted the memorial at the Lekki Toll Gate, one of the most important locations associated with the 2020 protests.
Participants had gathered to lay wreaths in memory of victims, including Pelumi Onifade, a young journalist who died after being arrested while covering protest related events in Lagos.
Organisers reportedly brought 15 wreaths for the ceremony, but the gathering was disrupted before the planned tribute could be completed.
Participants fled as tear gas spread through the area, with reports of people struggling to breathe and some sustaining injuries.
The police intervention renewed criticism from activists and civil society groups, who questioned why a gathering intended to honour victims of police brutality had been dispersed.
The incident also revived concerns over restrictions placed on EndSARS anniversary gatherings in previous years.
The Protests That Changed Nigeria
The #EndSARS movement began in October 2020 after years of complaints about alleged harassment, extortion, torture, unlawful detention and extrajudicial killings involving operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad, widely known as SARS.
Young Nigerians took to the streets across the country, demanding that the unit be disbanded and that officers responsible for abuses be held accountable.
The demonstrations quickly grew into a nationwide movement calling for police reform, respect for human rights and better governance.
On October 20, 2020, the shootings at the Lekki Toll Gate shocked the nation and attracted international attention. The circumstances surrounding the incident, the number of casualties and responsibility for the violence have remained disputed.
A Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry later investigated the incident and documented deaths and serious injuries connected to the shootings. However, disagreements over the findings and the response of government authorities have continued to fuel calls for accountability.
The Federal Government announced the disbandment of SARS in October 2020, but campaigners say the wider problems that inspired the protests have not been fully resolved.
Families Continue to Demand Justice
Six years after the protests, families of victims and survivors continue to seek answers, compensation and accountability.
Civil society organisations have called on federal and state authorities to publish clear reports on the implementation of judicial panel recommendations, outstanding compensation and unresolved investigations.
Campaigners have also demanded credible investigations into alleged police abuses, prosecution of officers found responsible and better protection for citizens exercising their constitutional rights.
They argue that disbanding SARS was only one step and that meaningful reform must include independent oversight, transparent investigations and consequences for proven misconduct.
The renewed use of tear gas at the Lekki memorial has further strengthened concerns that the relationship between citizens and security agencies remains strained.
A Painful Anniversary and an Unfinished Struggle
The sixth anniversary of #EndSARS has once again brought Nigeria’s unresolved questions about the Lekki shootings into public discussion.
Atiku is demanding answers about who authorised the use of force, while Obi is urging Nigerians never to forget the victims or accept injustice as normal.
Their statements reflect the continuing demand for a country where human life is valued, public officials are accountable and young people can speak out without fear.
For families who lost loved ones, survivors still dealing with the consequences and Nigerians who joined the protests, the struggle remains unfinished.
Six years later, the demands are still clear: justice for victims, compensation for affected families, accountability for abuses and lasting reforms in the Nigeria Police Force.
The memory of #EndSARS continues to remind the country that remembrance alone is not enough. Nigerians are still waiting for answers, meaningful change and a future in which no citizen has to risk their life to demand justice.
