Police operatives on Tuesday fired tear gas to disperse residents, journalists, activists, and prominent political figures gathered at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos.
The crowd had assembled to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the October 2020 #EndSARS protests.
Among those directly affected by the tear gas were Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Lagos State governorship candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Funso Doherty of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The peaceful procession and wreath-laying ceremony was organized by the civil society group Enough is Enough (EiE) movement.
It was aimed at honouring those who lost their lives during the #EndSARS protests and remembering the nationwide demonstrations against police brutality.
The gathering was, however, disrupted before participants could lay wreaths at the tollgate, as police officers deployed to the venue fired tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd.
The action triggered confusion as participants scrambled for safety amid clouds of tear gas that spread across the area.
Following the incident, participants fled the scene as the gas filled the vicinity, forcing the disruption of the planned commemoration.
The memorial was part of activities to remember the victims of the #EndSARS protests, which drew widespread public attention in October 2020 over allegations of police brutality, particularly against young Nigerians.
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The Lekki tollgate became a focal point of the protests and has remained a significant site for subsequent commemorations by activists and other Nigerians demanding accountability, justice and reforms in the country’s policing system.
Tuesday’s incident prevented participants from completing the planned wreath-laying ceremony, which was intended to pay tribute to those who lost their lives during the protests.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command is yet to provide an explanation for the use of tear gas at the time of filing this report.
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