The Lagos State police command in Nigeria has released at least 22 individuals who were detained during the #EndSARS memorial protest on Sunday. The arrests occurred in the Lekki tollgate area of Lagos, where protesters had gathered to commemorate victims of police brutality and demand the implementation of judicial panel recommendations.
Demonstrators assembled around 8:30 am to honor those who lost their lives during the 2020 police brutality protests. The crowd called for the full implementation of findings from judicial panels established in the wake of the #EndSARS movement. However, police officers intervened to disperse the gathering, leading to multiple arrests, including the organizer of the memorial event.
The #EndSARS protests, which began four years ago, saw thousands of Nigerians rally against the actions of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit accused of widespread police brutality. An Amnesty International report states that at least 12 protesters were killed at the Lekki tollgate in 2020 when Nigerian security forces opened fire on demonstrators.
Sunday’s protest was met with a significant police presence, preventing marchers from proceeding through the tollgate. The police action reflects ongoing tensions between law enforcement and activists seeking accountability for past incidents of police violence.
The release of the detained protesters comes amid continued calls for police reform and justice for victims of brutality. As Nigeria grapples with these issues, the #EndSARS movement remains a potent symbol of the struggle for human rights and accountability in the country’s law enforcement system.
Lagos authorities have not provided further comments on the arrests or the decision to release the protesters.
