FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 21 October 2026 | Abuja, Nigeria SIX YEARS AFTER #ENDSARS: ACTIONAID NIGERIA CONDEMNS POLICE ATTACK ON PEACEFUL MEMORIAL GATHERING AT LEKKI TOLL GATE, DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILITY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

21 October 2026 | Abuja, Nigeria

SIX YEARS AFTER #ENDSARS: ACTIONAID NIGERIA CONDEMNS POLICE ATTACK ON PEACEFUL MEMORIAL GATHERING AT LEKKI TOLL GATE, DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILITY

ActionAid Nigeria strongly condemns the use of tear gas by officers of the Nigeria Police Force against citizens who gathered peacefully at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests and honour the memory of Nigerians who lost their lives during the 2020 demonstrations.

It is deeply disturbing and unacceptable 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 are once again being subjected to the very acts of intimidation and excessive force they protested.

Reports that police officers fired tear gas at participants, including activists, journalists and other concerned Nigerians, disrupting a solemn wreath-laying ceremony, raise serious questions about the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to the reforms and accountability demanded by citizens since October 2020.

ActionAid Nigeria considers this incident a troubling reminder that the underlying issues that gave rise to the #EndSARS movement remain unresolved. Peaceful remembrance is not a criminal act, and the police's responsibility is to protect citizens by upholding their fundamental rights, not to intimidate, disperse, or silence them.

Reacting to the incident, the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu, stated:

"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. Six years later, Nigerians who gathered peacefully to remember the dead and demand accountability should never have been attacked by the very institution they were calling upon to reform.

"It is unacceptable that citizens cannot gather peacefully to honour those who lost their lives without facing tear gas and intimidation. The police must understand that their duty is to protect lives and uphold the Constitution, not suppress legitimate civic expression. We must never return to a situation where peaceful citizens are treated as enemies simply because they demand justice."

ActionAid Nigeria stands in unwavering solidarity with the survivors of the #EndSARS protests, the families who lost their loved ones, and all Nigerians who continue to seek truth, justice and accountability for the events of October 2020.

We recognise the courage and resilience of young Nigerians who have refused to allow the memories of those who died to be erased. Their demands for dignity, justice, accountable governance and an end to police brutality remain legitimate and must not be met with further repression.

Andrew Mamedu further stated:

"For the families who lost their sons, daughters, brothers and sisters during #EndSARS, October 20 is not just another date on the calendar. It is a painful reminder of lives cut short and questions still awaiting answers. The least the Nigerian state owes these families is the freedom to mourn, remember and demand justice without fear.

"A democratic society cannot claim to respect human rights while using force to silence peaceful citizens. Six years after #EndSARS, Nigeria should be demonstrating progress in police accountability, not repeating the actions that brought thousands of young people onto the streets in the first place."

ActionAid Nigeria therefore calls on the Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to immediately investigate the deployment of tear gas against the peaceful gathering, publicly explain the circumstances surrounding the incident and ensure that officers found responsible for unlawful or disproportionate use of force are held accountable.

We further demand that the Federal Government and relevant authorities demonstrate genuine commitment to police reform by ensuring the full and transparent implementation of outstanding recommendations from the judicial panels of inquiry established in the aftermath of the 2020 #EndSARS protests, including accountability for established human rights violations, appropriate reparations for victims and their families, and effective safeguards against future abuses.

As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, this incident should serve as a warning about the dangers of allowing security institutions to operate without sufficient accountability. Security agencies must demonstrate political neutrality, respect constitutional freedoms, and act professionally in their engagements with citizens.

The right to peaceful protest, assembly and freedom of expression is guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution. It is not a privilege to be granted or withdrawn at the discretion of security agencies.

ActionAid Nigeria reiterates that the use of excessive force against peaceful protesters must never become an acceptable response to civic engagement. The Nigerian Government must demonstrate through concrete action that the lessons of October 2020 have not been forgotten.

The memories of those who lost their lives during #EndSARS must be honoured with justice, not further intimidation. Six years later, Nigerians deserve accountability, meaningful police reforms, and a country where no citizen fears exercising their fundamental rights.

ENDS

Andrew Mamedu

Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria

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