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…Rhodes-Vivour, Doherty, journalists caught in disruption
Police operatives on Tuesday fired tear gas to disperse a memorial procession at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos, disrupting a ceremony organised to honour victims of the October 2020 #EndSARS protests.
Among those affected were Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, and Funso Doherty, who is seeking the same office on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The procession, organised by the Enough is Enough (EiE) movement to mark the sixth anniversary of the anti-police brutality protests, was halted before participants could conduct a planned wreath-laying ceremony.
Witnesses said police officers, who arrived at the tollgate ahead of the participants, fired tear gas to disperse the gathering, forcing residents, journalists and other attendees to flee for safety.
Some participants reportedly sustained injuries, while others experienced breathing difficulties amid the tear gas. The disruption also caused traffic congestion along the busy expressway.
The organisers had brought 15 wreaths to honour those who died during the protests, including Pelumi Onifade, a journalist who was shot dead in Lagos during the nationwide demonstrations.
The incident occurred on October 20, the date associated with the controversial events at the Lekki tollgate in 2020, which became a defining moment in the nationwide campaign against police brutality and abuses allegedly committed by the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The Lekki incident attracted international attention and intensified calls for accountability over the use of force by security agencies during the protests.
According to the report of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry, nine people were confirmed dead in connection with the incident, while four others were listed as missing and presumed dead.
Those identified as dead in the report were Victor Sunday Ibanga, Abuta Solomon, Jide, Olalekan Abideen Ashafa, Olamilekan Ajasa, Kolade Salami, Folorunsho Olabisi, Kenechukwu Ugoh and Nathaniel Solomon.
The four persons listed as missing and presumed dead were Abiodun Adesanya, Ifeanyi Nicholas Eji, Tola and Wisdom.
The #EndSARS movement began as a nationwide protestTighten the background for news focus
Clarify the anniversary reference
Make the headline more neutraly against police brutality, extortion, unlawful arrests and alleged human rights violations by SARS.
The demonstrations forced the Federal Government to announce the disbandment of the police unit in October 2020.
However, the Lekki tollgate shooting and unresolved questions surrounding deaths and injuries during the protests have continued to generate public debate and demands for justice and accountability.
