#EndSARS: Obi demands justice, accountability six years after Lekki Toll Gate shootings

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called for justice and accountability for victims of the October 20, 2020, Lekki Toll Gate shootings, insisting that Nigeria must never normalise injustice.

Obi made the call on Tuesday in a Facebook post commemorating the sixth anniversary of the incident, in which EndSARS protesters demanding an end to police brutality were met with gunfire.

He described the incident as a painful reminder of the sacrifices made by Nigerian youths in their quest for a better country.

“On that fateful night, peaceful #EndSARS protesters were met with gunfire. Lives were lost, many were injured, and the nation was left with questions about justice, accountability, and the sanctity of human life,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor said the country must not forget the victims or treat the events of that night as normal, stressing the need to protect citizens’ rights and ensure the responsible exercise of government power.

“We must never forget. We must never normalise injustice,” Obi stated.

He reaffirmed his belief that a new Nigeria was possible, describing it as a country where citizens would be protected rather than brutalised and young people listened to rather than silenced.

According to him, Nigeria must become a nation where no citizen is punished for demanding good governance and a better future.

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Obi also called for the victims of the shootings to be remembered, expressing hope that their sacrifice would strengthen the country’s resolve to prevent a recurrence of the tragedy.

“May the souls of the departed continue to rest in peace. May their sacrifice strengthen our resolve to build a Nigeria where this tragedy will never be repeated,” he said.

The NDC presidential candidate concluded his message by reiterating his vision of a country where every life matters.

The #EndSARS protests began in October 2020, with young Nigerians taking to the streets to demand the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a police unit accused of abuses, including extortion, torture and extrajudicial killings.

The Lekki Toll Gate shootings on October 20, 2020, became one of the most defining moments of the protests, triggering widespread condemnation and renewed calls for police reform, justice and accountability.