Police operatives have dispersed protesters gathered at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos to commemorate the #EndSARS movement, firing tear gas at participants and forcing some to flee.
The incident occurred on Wednesday as youths converged on the tollgate to mark the first anniversary of the October 2020 protests against police brutality and alleged abuses by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
Some protesters reportedly ran in different directions as the tear gas was deployed. Earlier, police officers had arrested two participants, including a person who identified himself as a journalist and another carrying a placard.
About 30 police trucks and armed personnel were stationed at the tollgate to enforce the Lagos State Police Command’s restriction on street demonstrations commemorating the anniversary.
The police had earlier warned that only indoor and virtual events would be permitted, citing intelligence reports about possible clashes involving opposing groups.
The #EndSARS movement began in October 2020, drawing thousands of Nigerians into demonstrations demanding an end to police brutality, extortion and extrajudicial killings.
The Lekki tollgate became a focal point of the protests, particularly following the October 20, 2020, military operation against demonstrators at the location, an incident that sparked nationwide outrage and persistent calls for accountability.