Police officers on Tuesday disrupted a memorial procession at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos, firing teargas at protesters, journalists and political figures gathered to honour victims of the October 2020 #EndSARS protests.
Among those caught up in the incident were Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Lagos, and Funso Doherty, governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The politicians had joined residents and journalists at the tollgate for a wreath-laying ceremony organised by the Enough is Enough (EiE) movement to commemorate the victims of the anti-police brutality protests.
However, the memorial was abruptly halted as police officers who had arrived at the venue before the event began reportedly moved to disperse the gathering with teargas canisters.
The sudden intervention triggered panic, forcing participants to flee before they could lay the wreaths. Some people sustained injuries, while others struggled to breathe amid the teargas fumes.
The incident also caused traffic congestion along the busy expressway as the crowd scattered in search of safety.
The memorial was organised to remember those who lost their lives during the October 2020 protests, which drew nationwide attention to allegations of police brutality and demands for the disbandment of the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
According to the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry’s report on the Lekki incident, nine people were confirmed dead, while four others were listed as missing and presumed dead.
Those listed as dead were Victor Sunday Ibanga, Abuta Solomon, Jide, Olalekan Abideen Ashafa, Olamilekan Ajasa, Kolade Salami, Folorunsho Olabisi, Kenechukwu Ugoh and Nathaniel Solomon.
The four persons listed as missing and presumed dead were Abiodun Adesanya, Ifeanyi Nicholas Eji, Tola and Wisdom.
The organisers said they had brought 15 wreaths to the venue, including one in honour of Pelumi Onifade, a journalist who was shot dead in Lagos during the nationwide anti-police brutality protests.
The police action on Tuesday prevented the planned wreath-laying ceremony from taking place as participants were forced to abandon the memorial amid the chaos.