Chiemelie Ezeobi
Police officers on Tuesday morning fired tear fuel to disperse residents, journalists and political figures, who gathered on the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos for a memorial in honour of victims of the October 2020 #EndSARS protests.
The incident disrupted the memorial organised by the Enough is Enough motion earlier than contributors might lay wreaths on the tollgate to honour those that misplaced their lives in the course of the protests.
About 30 police vans and armed personnel have been stationed on the tollgate because the Lagos State Police Command enforced its restriction on road demonstrations commemorating the anniversary.
Among these affected by the police motion have been the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress governorship candidate, Funso Doherty, who have been current on the gathering and got here bearing wreaths.
The memorial was organised to recollect victims of the protests, which started in October 2020 and drew 1000’s of Nigerians into demonstrations in opposition to police brutality, extortion and extrajudicial killings.
Participants had gathered on the tollgate for the commemoration, however the occasion was lower brief when cops deployed to the venue fired tear fuel canisters to disperse the group.
The deliberate wreath-laying ceremony couldn’t happen earlier than the gathering was disrupted.
The police had earlier warned that solely indoor and digital occasions can be permitted to mark the anniversary, citing intelligence studies about doable clashes involving opposing teams.
The Lagos State Police Command’s restriction on road demonstrations shaped the backdrop to Tuesday’s incident, with the deployment of police vans and armed personnel to the tollgate to implement the directive.
The command’s warning got here forward of commemorative actions marking six years for the reason that #EndSARS protests, which grew to become a serious nationwide motion in opposition to abuses by the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The protests unfold throughout a number of elements of Nigeria as demonstrators demanded an finish to police brutality and extortion, accountability for alleged abuses and reforms inside the Nigeria Police Force.
The Lekki tollgate grew to become one of the crucial distinguished places related to the demonstrations.
It has since remained a focus for anniversary gatherings by folks looking for to recollect the victims and revisit the calls for that introduced protesters onto the streets in 2020.
The Enough is Enough motion’s memorial was among the many actions deliberate to commemorate those that died in the course of the protests. The wreath-laying was supposed to offer contributors with a chance to pay their respects on the tollgate.
However, the police deployment and firing of tear fuel prevented the ceremony from continuing as deliberate.
The #EndSARS protests started in October 2020 amid widespread anger over alleged abuses by SARS operatives, together with extortion, harassment and extrajudicial killings.
The motion drew participation from younger Nigerians and different residents who demanded adjustments in policing and better accountability for officers accused of misconduct.
Six years later, the Lekki tollgate stays a major location within the public remembrance of the protests, with anniversary actions centred on honouring victims and recalling the calls for for police reform.
