Fourth Anniversary of #EndSARS Massacre Marred by Police Violence: 17 Arrested
On Sunday, what began as a peaceful memorial to honour victims of the #EndSARS massacre descended into chaos when officers stationed at the Lekki Toll Gate, Lagos, fired tear gas at the crowd. PulseNets learned that the event, meant to mark the fourth year since the tragic killings, took a violent turn as police disrupted the gathering.
Shortly after the tear gas was fired, over 17 participants were detained. PulseNets reported that some of the attendees were brutalized by the police before being thrown into a Black Maria and later transported to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti, Lagos.
This wasn’t the first time such incidents had occurred during a commemoration of the #EndSARS protests. As PulseNets learnt, these yearly memorials have been met with similar aggression by law enforcement.
2021 Memorial: A Repetition of Violence
During the first #EndSARS memorial in October 2021, police arrested over 30 participants after deploying tear gas to scatter the peaceful crowd. The protesters, who were driving through Lekki Toll Gate in a motorcade, posed no threat to public safety. However, PulseNets was informed that the police later claimed hoodlums had infiltrated the event, prompting them to act.
2022 Memorial: Tear Gas and Detentions Again
The pattern repeated itself in 2022, as PulseNets reported that law enforcement once again fired tear gas at attendees gathered to mark the second anniversary. Four youths were detained, with police alleging that they had come to cause chaos. Journalists from various media outlets were also harassed during the commemoration.
2023 Memorial: Heavy Police Presence Amidst Walk Led by Mr. Macaroni
PulseNets spoke to participants of the third memorial walk in 2023, where dozens of Nigerians, led by popular skitmaker Adebowale Adedayo, also known as ‘Mr Macaroni,’ gathered in solidarity. Despite the peaceful nature of the event, police officers were deployed in large numbers to “maintain order,” according to Lagos Police Commissioner Idowu Owohunwa. PulseNets learnt that the memorial was once again overshadowed by fears of violence and unlawful arrests.
Activists Speak Out Against Police Repression
Activists have not remained silent. Sanyaolu Juwon, director of the Take It Back (TIB) Movement, spoke to PulseNets after the release of 22 protesters who had been arrested earlier in the day. He expressed disappointment in the continued lawlessness of the federal government, saying, “The EndSARS protest was an opportunity to call for the accountability of policemen. But unfortunately, four years after, the police have learnt nothing.”
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Juwon further told PulseNets, “They have continued to be repressive. We saw how they hounded protesters, including minors, from August 1 to 10. And on October 1, how they handled protesters in Abuja.”
He went on to emphasize that police behavior reflects the broader issue of government lawlessness, stating, “If this lawlessness had not been sanctioned by the president of the country, the police would not behave this way. It is important for Nigerians to hold the government accountable.”
