Police Fire Tear Gas at Rhodes-Vivour, Funso Doherty and #EndSARS Memorial Participants in Lekki

Nigerian police officers fired tear gas at people gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos on Tuesday, October 20, disrupting a memorial event marking six years since the #EndSARS protests against police brutality.

Among those at the gathering were Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, and Funso Doherty, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate. Journalists, activists and other residents were also present when officers deployed tear gas, forcing participants to flee for safety.

The memorial was organised by the Enough is Enough (EiE) movement to honour those who died during the 2020 protests and renew calls for accountability over alleged police abuses. The gathering was disrupted before participants could complete a planned wreath-laying ceremony at the toll gate.

The incident was captured in footage shared by media organisations covering the event. Reports said Rhodes-Vivour and Doherty moved away from the scene as the tear gas spread through the crowd.

The Lekki Toll Gate remains a major symbol of the #EndSARS movement. On October 20, 2020, security personnel opened fire during a protest at the site, an incident that triggered widespread outrage and continued demands for accountability. The demonstrations began as a campaign against abuses associated with the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and grew into nationwide protests calling for police reform.

The latest disruption has renewed concerns about the handling of public demonstrations and the ability of Nigerians to commemorate victims of police brutality. At the time of SaharaReporters’ report, the Lagos State Police Command had not provided a response to the incident despite attempts to reach its spokesperson.

The incident comes as Nigerians continue to call for justice for victims of the 2020 protests and stronger safeguards against police misconduct. Further clarification from the police would be needed to establish their reasons for dispersing the gathering.