#EndSARS: ActionAid demands probe into Police tear gas at Lekki toll gate

ActionAid Nigeria has condemned the use of tear gas by police officers against citizens who gathered peacefully at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests, calling for an investigation and accountability for the officers involved.

In a statement, the organisation said the incident occurred on 20 October 2026 during a memorial gathering to honour Nigerians who lost their lives during the 2020 protests against police brutality.

It described the action as disturbing and unacceptable, arguing that six years after young Nigerians took to the streets to demand an end to police brutality, citizens exercising their constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and remembrance were still being subjected to intimidation and excessive force.

ActionAid said reports that police officers fired tear gas at activists, journalists and other participants, disrupting a wreath-laying ceremony, raised serious concerns about the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to the reforms and accountability demanded since 2020.

The Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Dr Andrew Mamedu, said the country must not repeat the events that triggered the #EndSARS protests.

“We cannot afford a repeat of what happened in October 2020. The painful memories of #EndSARS are still fresh, and the wounds of families who lost loved ones have not healed,” he said.

He described it as unacceptable that Nigerians who had gathered peacefully to remember those who died and demand accountability were confronted with tear gas and intimidation by the very institution they were calling upon to reform.

According to him, the responsibility of the police is to protect lives and uphold the Constitution, rather than suppress legitimate civic expression. Mamedu said the incident demonstrated that the underlying issues that gave rise to the #EndSARS movement remained unresolved, adding that citizens must be allowed to mourn and demand justice without fear.

The ActionAid Nigeria country director added that the Nigerian state owed affected families the freedom to remember their loved ones and seek justice without intimidation. He called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to investigate immediately the deployment of tear gas at the memorial gathering, publicly explain the circumstances surrounding the incident and ensure that officers found responsible for the unlawful or disproportionate use of force were held accountable.

The organisation also urged the Federal Government and relevant authorities to ensure the full and transparent implementation of outstanding recommendations from judicial panels of inquiry established after the 2020 #EndSARS protests.

It said such measures should include accountability for established human rights violations, appropriate reparations for victims and their families, and effective safeguards against future abuses.

The organisation warned that the incident was particularly concerning as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, stressing that security agencies must demonstrate political neutrality, professionalism and respect for constitutional freedoms.

ActionAid Nigeria urged the government to demonstrate through concrete action that the lessons of the #EndSARS protests had not been forgotten, insisting that the memories of those who lost their lives must be honoured through justice and meaningful police reforms rather than further intimidation.