• There must be accountability, says Global Rights
• RULAAC slams govt’s failure to deliver police reform, justice for victims

Five years after #EndSARS protests shook Nigeria and called global attention to police brutality, the scars of the protests that rocked the popular Lekki Tollgate Plaza, remain in silence as there were no wreaths laid or silent marches and candlelight procession held at the #EndSARS epicentre to remember their compatriots who died at the hands of security personnel.

Stakeholders, including Global Rights and the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) have condemned government’s inability to deliver on police reforms and justice for the victims, noting that since democracy thrives on trust and accountability, “the right to protest is not a privilege granted by the state; it is a democratic right that protects the state itself from tyranny.”

Lagos, which has always been a boiling pot of social unrest, resistance and agitation, especially by civil society groups and students, had never witnessed the scale of destruction that happened that fateful day in October.

Disturbed by the wanton display of lawlessness, which evolved after some security personnel visited violent shootings on the unarmed youngsters, the Lagos State Government set up a judicial panel.

No sooner was the panel set up than scepticism took over as residents recalled the destruction by a detachment of soldiers numbering not less than 1,000 of Kalakuta Republic, the musical theatre of Nigeria’s Afrobeat king, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti in February 18, 1977.

Although most residents received the setting up of the panel of inquiry with a rehash of Fela’s song, ‘Government Magic,’ young people chose to commemorate what they called massacre on every October 20, the anniversary of the infamous attack on civil protest.

One year after the panel submitted its report, it was found that the army not only failed to abide by its own rules of engagement, but also that “its conduct was exacerbated by its refusal to allow ambulances render medical assistance to victims.”

The panel also discovered a total of about 48 casualties, as well as 11 people killed and four missing persons as a result of the massacre. But, while the report awaited implementation of its lofty recommendations, candle processions and other social events were built around October 20, as a form of memorial.

However, in absence of elaborate memorial ceremonies, yesterday, social media platforms were flooded with tributes, reflections, and renewed calls for justice, condemning police abuses and the lack of accountability for the incident.

For two weeks in 2020, protesters had occupied streets across Lagos, Delta, Edo, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and other cities, presenting five major demands: justice for victims, police reform, compensation, psychological evaluation of officers, and improved welfare for security personnel. Their message was simple: stop killing us.

Many activists and young Nigerians said it was impossible to forget what happened at the Lekki Tollgate, describing it as a defining moment in the nation’s history.

RULAAC’s Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, in a statement, said the promises made by authorities in 2020 have largely been abandoned, leaving the same patterns of police impunity, corruption, and abuse firmly in place.

“The government’s response to the #EndSARS movement was swift but shallow, SARS was disbanded in name, but the oppressive policing culture remains intact. The tragic events at the Lekki Tollgate are still a wound on the nation’s conscience,” Nwanguma stated.

The government promised to disband SARS, set up judicial panels of inquiry, and initiate comprehensive police reforms, commitments that, according to RULAAC, have not been fulfilled.

“Despite talk of ‘reform,’ the policing philosophy remains authoritarian rather than democratic. The passage of the Police Act 2020 appeared, at first, to signal a new beginning. It replaced the colonial-era Police Act of 1943, enshrining principles of accountability, human rights, and community partnership.

“It prohibited torture, guaranteed access to legal representation, and mandated due process. It also promised stable leadership and transparent funding. On paper, it was a watershed. In practice, it has been largely ignored.”

He remarked that while the Police Act 2020, enacted shortly before the protests, was hailed as a landmark reform replacing the 1943 colonial-era law, its implementation has been grossly inadequate.

Executive Director of Global Rights, Abiodun Baiyewu, said it was disheartening that no one had been held accountable for the killings of peaceful protesters, who were waving the national flag and singing the anthem when armed security personnel opened fire.

Regretting that the reports of judicial panels of inquiry into the killings and other cases of police brutality had largely been ignored, Baiyewu wondered why the reforms demanded by Nigerians remain unimplemented.

She called on the Nigerian government to listen to the voices of its citizens and ensure that the country never again descends into the darkness of October 20, 2020. As according to her, “Justice delayed, is democracy denied.”

The organisation therefore, demanded that the government Identify, arrest, and prosecute those responsible for the Lekki Toll Gate shootings and subsequent cover-ups and also called for the full implementation of the recommendations of the judicial panels of inquiry and embark on comprehensive police reforms.

While calling for urgent training of law enforcement officers to handle protests in a de-escalatory and rights-based manner, the group tasked the authorities on the need to end the misuse of laws like the Cybercrime Act to suppress free expression and protect citizens’ right to peaceful assembly.

When The Guardian visited the Lekki tollgate yesterday, there were no signs of protest or memorial service at the site, even as stakeholders wondered if those allegedly killed had been forgotten or the government remains committed to implementing the protesters’ demands.

A video of Nigerian activist and Executive Director of the Enough is Enough Nigeria group, Yemi Adamolekun, who was at the tollgate showed her being harassed by security operatives at the Lekki Toll Gate on Monday while attempting to lay flowers in honour of victims of the 2020 EndSARS protest.

EiE Nigeria disclosed this in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday. The post read, “While peacefully laying a wreath in remembrance of the #LekkiMassacre, #_yemia was harassed by overzealous security agents. Even in honouring the dead, citizens are intimidated. She’s fine — but this abuse of power is not.”

Activist and comedian Adebowale Adebayo, popularly known as Mr Macaroni, said: “Nigerian youths lost their lives, jobs, families and dreams at the hands of the most corrupt and evil people we call leaders! Even though some of us are deeply in love with our oppressors, this day, 20/10/2020, is never to be forgotten nor forgiven.” He insisted that Nigerian leaders will never be forgiven for the mass killing of harmless protesters by the military

Journalist Fisayo Soyombo said: “I will never forget. Three days after the 20th of October 2020 #LekkiMassacre, when Tinubu spoke to the media, his exact words were: ‘Those that had suffered casualties during the gunshot need to answer some questions too. How were they there? How long were they there? What kind of characters were they?’”

On his part, David Onyemaizu, said that 20th of October 2020 would have probably been the day Nigeria changed forever as a nation, stressing, “The event was the closest to unity, devoid of the political tools of tribalism and religious sentiments, we ever had. Those who lost their lives will forever be remembered.”

But, just as protesters stayed off the plaza, operatives of the Lagos State Police Command, led by the Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Olohundare, were on ground to prevent any form of gathering.

The Police Commissioner told The Guardian: “We believe that people who are disgruntled have started to see reasons why they should allow law and order to prevail. Where your rights stop is where other peoples’ begin. People should know that there are laid-down processes through which they can let their grievances be heard. All legal processes should be exhausted before anybody can take to the streets.

On what has become of the protesters’ demands, especially on police reform, he explained that a lot of initiatives have been undertaken by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, towards the improvement of the welfare of officers.

“From our uniforms, police officers are looking bright; there has been improvement in equipment and development of logistics to protect lives and property. We are faring well, and a lot of milestone achievements have been recorded in bridging the gap between the people and the police.”

Also, prominent activists Aisha Yesufu and Rinu Oduala took to social media to honour the memory of Nigerians who lost their lives during the demonstrations. Rinu, one of the organisers of the Lagos protests, said in a post on X (formerly Twitter): “Five years on, we can only remember to resist. It shouldn’t have been at the expense of your lives. Many deniers of your deaths are still in power. We failed you and Nigeria failed us all.”

Yesufu, known for her outspoken activism and whose image became the symbol of the protest, was equally scathing in her criticism of the government, accusing it of continuing the same repressive tactics. “Five years ago, the Nigerian government shot unarmed protesters, and today the Nigerian government headed by an illegitimate president is shooting unarmed protesters,” she wrote.

The #EndSARS protests, which began as a youth-led movement against police brutality and extrajudicial killings, evolved into a broader demand for good governance and accountability. Although the government later disbanded the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), many activists argue that the reforms promised have not been fully implemented.