LAGOS, October 20, 2026 — Police operatives have fired tear gas to disperse Nigerians gathered at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests against police brutality.
According to reports by Channels Television and Punch Newspapers, the gathering was disrupted on Tuesday morning as activists, journalists, residents and political figures assembled to honour victims of the 2020 protests.
Among those present were Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Lagos State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Funso Doherty of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The memorial was organised by the Enough is Enough movement to remember those who lost their lives during the demonstrations. Participants were reportedly forced to flee as tear gas filled the area, preventing a planned wreath-laying ceremony from proceeding.
The #EndSARS protests erupted in October 2020, with young Nigerians demanding an end to police brutality, extortion and abuses associated with the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The Lekki Tollgate became a major focal point of the demonstrations following the October 20, 2020, shooting of protesters by security forces, an incident that continues to fuel calls for accountability and police reform.
Tuesday’s disruption has renewed concerns about the right to peaceful assembly and the continuing struggle for justice for victims of police brutality.