SIX YEARS AFTER #ENDSARS: NIGERIANS REMEMBER LEKKI SHOOTINGS

October 20, 2026, marks six years since the #EndSARS protests and the tragic shootings at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, an event that remains one of the most defining moments in Nigeria’s recent history.The anniversary commemorates the young Nigerians who took to the streets in October 2020 to demand an end to police brutality, harassment, extortion and abuses associated with the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).Although the Federal Government announced the dissolution of SARS on October 11, 2020, protests continued as demonstrators demanded wider police reforms and accountability.On October 20, security forces opened fire on protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate. Videos of the incident circulated widely online, attracting international attention and sparking widespread condemnation. Amnesty International reported that at least 12 protesters were killed at Lekki and Alausa that night, while a Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry subsequently found that live ammunition was used against protesters. The state government disputed key findings of the panel.The movement became a symbol of youth activism and solidarity, with thousands of Nigerians organising peaceful demonstrations, providing medical assistance and legal support, and using social media to document events. The slogan “Soro Soke”, meaning “speak up”, became a defining expression of the movement.Six years later, #EndSARS remains an important chapter in Nigeria’s struggle with police accountability and human rights. The anniversary serves as an opportunity to reflect on the courage of the protesters, the lives affected and the lasting impact of a movement that brought Nigerians together around a common demand for change.Six years on, the memories remain. The voices of October 2020 will not be forgotten.October 20, 2020 Never forgotten.#EndSARS #SixYearsAfterEndSARS #LekkiTollGate #EndPoliceBrutality

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