The incident occurred on October 20, 2026, as activists and other participants assembled at the site to remember victims of police abuses and renew calls for accountability over alleged human rights violations by security agencies.
The nationwide #EndSARS protests began in October 2020, with thousands of young Nigerians taking to the streets to demand an end to police brutality, particularly abuses associated with the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
According to a report by SaharaReporters, its television platform was livestreaming Tuesday’s gathering when police officers fired tear gas to disperse participants at the Lekki Toll Gate.
Among those present at the commemoration were the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidates in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and Funso Doherty.
Both politicians reportedly moved away from the scene after the tear gas was fired.
The circumstances that led to the police action were not immediately clear from the report. However, the incident has renewed concerns about the handling of public gatherings and the rights of Nigerians to peaceful assembly and expression.
Lekki Toll Gate remains a symbol of #EndSARS
The Lekki Toll Gate occupies a significant place in Nigeria’s recent history because of the events of October 20, 2020, when soldiers reportedly opened fire on protesters gathered at the location during the #EndSARS demonstrations.
The shootings became one of the most controversial episodes of the protests, drawing national and international condemnation and prompting persistent demands for investigations into the conduct of security personnel.
For many activists, survivors and families of victims, the toll gate remains a symbol of the struggle against police brutality and the demand for justice for those killed or injured during the demonstrations.
Tuesday’s anniversary gathering was intended to commemorate the movement and draw renewed attention to its demands, including police accountability, respect for human rights and reforms to prevent further abuses.
The reported use of tear gas against participants has therefore raised fresh questions about the treatment of people seeking to honour the victims and reflect on the significance of the protests.
Renewed calls for accountability
The sixth anniversary has renewed calls from activists and civil society organisations for credible investigations into allegations of unlawful killings, torture and other abuses by security agencies during and after the 2020 demonstrations.
Advocates have continued to argue that the promises of reform made following the protests must be matched by concrete action, including transparent investigations, prosecution where evidence supports criminal charges, and effective remedies for victims and their families.
The persistence of such concerns has also kept the issue of police accountability at the centre of Nigeria’s human rights debate.
Previous anniversary gatherings at the Lekki Toll Gate have reportedly faced police disruption, with participants in earlier commemorations said to have been arrested or subjected to violence.
Tuesday’s incident is likely to intensify scrutiny of how security agencies manage demonstrations and other public events, particularly those organised to commemorate victims of alleged state abuses.
The right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression is protected under Nigeria’s Constitution, subject to lawful limitations. Human rights advocates have repeatedly urged authorities to ensure that policing of public gatherings is proportionate and consistent with these protections.
Police yet to respond
SaharaReporters said it was unable to obtain an immediate response from the Lagos State Police Command regarding the incident.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, reportedly did not answer calls at the time the report was filed.
The police had therefore not publicly explained why tear gas was deployed, whether any participants were arrested or injured, or whether an official assessment of the incident would be conducted.
The lack of an immediate response means the police account of the events remains unavailable, and the circumstances surrounding the dispersal have yet to be fully established.
As Nigerians mark six years since the #EndSARS protests, the incident at the Lekki Toll Gate has once again drawn attention to unresolved questions about police conduct, the protection of civil liberties and the demand for accountability for alleged abuses by security forces.
