Soldiers reportedly shot at #EndSARS demonstrators gathered at the Lekki tollgate.
More than 1,000 protesters peacefully gathered at a tollgate in Lekki, Lagos, the economic capital of Nigeria, were reportedly dispersed by gunfire on the evening of Tuesday 20 October after a total curfew had been imposed. The curfew was decreed to try to extinguish the popular movement #EndSARS born in early October on social networks to denounce police violence.
When the curfew officially came into effect on Tuesday afternoon, the demonstrators besieged the Lekki tollbooth that they have been occupying for more than a week, waving flags to signify their “non-violence”.
At nightfall, the lights of the street lighting and billboards went out suddenly (…) Everybody shouted and men arrived and started shooting.
Toye 32 years old – demonstrator #endSARS in Lekki
Following this human rights violation by the Nigerian police, a petition calling for sanctions against the Nigerian government and officials has already collected more than 122,000 signatures online.
The Lagos state government has confirmed the incidents in the Lekki district of Lagos.
Nine people were reportedly killed and many others injured when the Nigerian army opened fire on peaceful demonstrators. As many as 18 people, including two police officers, died during the marches, which had until recently been generally peaceful.
Confirming the occurrence of the unfortunate Lekki incidents, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu – who is the target of accusations of “murder” on social networks – has through the Commissioner for Information and State Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, promised an investigation into the incident.
