EndSARS was one of Nigeria’s most unifying protests. Citizens from different ethnic and religious backgrounds came together at Lekki Toll Gate to demand an end to police brutality.
They stood united against the alleged abuse and killing of innocent Nigerians. For many, the movement represented a collective demand for justice, dignity and accountability.
Why the Youths Took to the Streets
EndSARS was a decentralised youth movement against police brutality in Nigeria. It called for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a police unit widely criticised for abuse and extortion. 
Officers frequently harassed young people, making such encounters a source of fear and frustration. Eventually, many youths refused to tolerate the alleged abuses any longer.
The movement went beyond calls to disband SARS. It demanded the freedom to live without fear of harassment by law enforcement officers.
A Government That Would Not Listen
Young and old, celebrities and ordinary citizens joined the protests to demand their rights. However, protesters continued to face resistance as demonstrations spread across the country.
At the Lekki Toll Gate EndSARS protest ground, security agents reportedly fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators. The protesters remained determined to make their voices heard.
They believed that democracy guaranteed their right to peaceful protest. They also expected their leaders to address their concerns about police brutality and the treatment of young Nigerians.
The Night at Lekki Toll Gate EndSARS Protest
On 20 October 2020, peaceful EndSARS protesters gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos State. Many waved Nigerian flags and recited the national anthem.
That evening, soldiers deployed to the area opened fire on protesters, according to eyewitness accounts and footage circulated online. The incident became one of the most controversial moments in Nigeria’s recent history.
In November 2021, the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry concluded that soldiers shot, injured and killed unarmed protesters. The panel described the incident as a massacre in context. However, the Lagos State Government later rejected key findings of the report.
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Lekki Toll Gate EndSARS Protest: Denial After Denial
In the aftermath, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu disputed claims that people had died at the toll gate and questioned the authenticity of circulating videos. The Nigerian Army also used its official X account to challenge reports about the incident.
On 19 November 2020, then Minister of Information Lai Mohammed dismissed reports of the Lekki shootings as fake news. He urged the international community to disregard them.
In October 2021, then Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai also rejected allegations that soldiers had massacred protesters at the toll gate.
Lekki Toll Gate EndSARS Protest: Six Years, No Answers
Evidence and competing accounts have emerged since the incident. Yet many Nigerians still want a clear answer to a crucial question: who authorised the deployment and the use of force against the protesters?
The Lagos judicial panel’s findings intensified calls for accountability. However, the state government rejected key conclusions, leaving the incident contested in public debate.
For many Nigerians, the demand for justice remains unresolved. Police officers and soldiers are expected to protect lives and uphold the law. They should not use excessive force against the people they serve.
The EndSARS movement called for an end to police brutality and demanded reforms. Yet the Lekki shootings turned a largely peaceful protest into a national tragedy.
Six years later, the questions surrounding that night continue to shape Nigeria’s conversations about justice, human rights and accountability.
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Story written by Oluwatoyin Ololade and edited by Sola Sanusi.
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