Police Arrest, Fire Tear Gas At #EndSARS Memorial Protesters
Operatives of the Nigerian Police Force on Sunday reportedly fired shots and deployed tear gas to forcibly disperse protesters gathered at the Lekki Tollgate, in Lagos State.
Naija News reports that the demonstrators had assembled to commemorate those who lost their lives during the October 2020 #EndSARS protests against police brutality.
According to eyewitness accounts, the peaceful procession was interrupted when police officers began shooting into the air and deploying tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Many protesters fled the scene, while at least two individuals were arrested.
A source who spoke to SaharaReporters confirmed the arrests, though the identities of those detained remain unknown.
As of now, the police have not released an official statement addressing the incident or the use of force during the memorial gathering.
Recall that the Lekki Tollgate is the site of the tragic shooting on October 20, 2020, when security forces opened fire on unarmed protesters.
Thousands of youths, in October 2020, gathered in major cities across the country to protest against the constant harassment, killings, and extortion by officers of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a unit of the Nigerian police.
The protest culminated at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, where several youths were reportedly killed and many others severely injured following the intervention of the Nigerian military.
In the aftermath of the protests, judicial panels were established across various states to assess and review the protesters’ demands.
However, almost four years later, protest leaders have expressed deep regret that many of the panels’ recommendations remain unimplemented.
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