Sunday, October 20, 2024, marked the fourth anniversary of the Lekki Toll Gate shootings, a tragic event in Nigerian history when the Nigerian Army, under orders from then-President Muhammadu Buhari and at the invitation of Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, opened fire on unarmed #EndSARS protesters. These protesters, waving the Nigerian flag and singing the national anthem, had gathered in Lagos to demand an end to police brutality, urgent police reforms, and better governance. The event, captured live by media outlets worldwide, left numerous casualties and marked the culmination of a nearly two-week movement largely driven by Nigerian youths through social media.
The #EndSARS protests, fueled by social media, united youths across Nigeria in unprecedented numbers. However, accusations that the protesters sought “regime change” led to the government deploying the military to disperse them. The aftermath of the shootings unleashed a wave of looting and destruction in Lagos, as frustration boiled over. Amid the tensions, Yoruba and Igbo leaders intervened to foster unity, preventing further escalations between the two communities.
In response, Governor Sanwo-Olu formed the Justice Doris Okuwobi Judicial Commission of Inquiry. The Commission’s findings labeled the incident a “massacre,” emphasizing the tragic mishandling of the protests. Despite hopes that #EndSARS would bring meaningful change, efforts were stalled by vote-buying, ethnic profiling, and electoral setbacks in the 2023 elections, especially in Lagos, where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) faced criticism over technical “glitches” that undermined vote credibility.
In August, Nigerian youths attempted a new #EndBadGovernance protest but saw little impact as the current administration, under President Bola Tinubu, continued to implement tough economic policies amid existing hardships. However, on October 20, a small group of determined youths returned to the Lekki Toll Gate to commemorate the protest’s anniversary. The peaceful gathering was respectfully managed by the Police, who released those briefly detained.
The Lekki Toll Gate now stands as a national monument, a symbol of the collective voice of Nigerian youth and the enduring demand for justice and accountability. This anniversary serves as a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made in the quest for a Nigeria that respects the rights of its citizens and upholds the principles of good governance.