Veteran entertainer and activist Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy or Area Fada, has paid a heartfelt tribute to the victims of the October 20, 2020 Lekki Toll Gate shooting, describing the day as a “wound, a warning, and a wake-up call” that Nigerians must never forget.
In a powerful post shared via his social media handle on Monday, Charly Boy reflected on the fifth anniversary of the incident that marked a turning point in Nigeria’s struggle for justice and police reform.
“20/10/2020 Never Forgotten,” he began, honouring the memory of young Nigerians who lost their lives during the #EndSARS protests against police brutality.
“They said dey were stubborn, but all dey wanted was a country that breathes. They raised dia flags not weapons. They sang the anthem, not war songs, but dey answered peace with bullets,” he wrote.
Recalling the tragic night, Charly Boy lamented how “the sky turned red” and “dreams fell one by one onto the cold ground of Lekki,” adding that the memory of those who died remains deeply etched in the nation’s conscience.
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He described the youths as “the heartbeat of a dying nation,” noting that while some lost their lives, others lost jobs, families, and faith in the system.
Charly Boy also criticised Nigerians who continue to support those he described as “oppressors,” writing: “Some still dance for their oppressors, still clap for the same hands that pulled the trigger. Love mixed with fear — Stockholm syndrome in green and white.”
He concluded with a solemn reminder that the victims’ sacrifices would not be in vain: “They may forgive someday, but dey will never forget. Because dia blood still whispers: Remember us.”
The #EndSARS movement, which began as a campaign against police brutality, escalated into one of Nigeria’s largest youth-led protests before being met with a violent crackdown on October 20, 2020, at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos — a day now symbolising resilience, remembrance, and the fight for justice.