Six years after the #EndSARS protests, victims and families affected by police brutality in Nigeria are still seeking justice, compensation and accountability, as allegations of police harassment and unfulfilled reform promises continue to raise concerns.
The protests, which swept across Nigeria in October 2020, were driven by public anger over alleged extortion, torture, unlawful arrests and extrajudicial killings linked to the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The movement reached a critical point on October 20, 2020, when security forces opened fire on protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, an incident that remains a defining moment in Nigeria’s human rights history. documented longstanding allegations of police abuses and repeated reform promises.
Despite the disbandment of SARS and subsequent reform efforts, reports of police brutality, unlawful detention and extortion continue to fuel concerns about accountability and the protection of citizens’ rights. highlights continuing allegations of police harassment six years after the protests.
On the sixth anniversary, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) called on the Federal and Lagos State governments to apologise for the Lekki shootings, prosecute those responsible and provide reparations to victims and affected families. The organisation also urged authorities to strengthen police accountability and implement meaningful reforms. .
For survivors and bereaved families, the passage of six years has not brought the closure they hoped for. Their continued demands for justice underscore the need for transparent investigations, compensation for victims and lasting changes to Nigeria’s policing system.
As Nigeria marks another anniversary of #EndSARS, the central question remains whether the promises made in 2020 will translate into meaningful accountability and lasting protection against police abuse.