The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to keep demanding justice and accountability six years after the Lekki Toll Gate shootings during the #EndSARS protests.
Obi, in a statement posted on his official X handle on Tuesday, October 20, described the incident as a painful reminder of the sacrifices made by Nigerian youths in their quest for a better country.
The former Anambra State governor condemned the violence against protesters and warned against allowing injustice to become accepted in the country.
“On that fateful night, peaceful #EndSARS protesters were met with gunfire. Lives were lost, many were injured, and the nation was left with questions about justice, accountability, and the sanctity of human life,” Obi said.
He added, “We must never forget. We must never normalise injustice.”
The sixth anniversary of the incident comes amid renewed calls for accountability over the events of October 20, 2020, when security operatives allegedly opened fire on protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos during demonstrations against police brutality and abuses attributed to the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The #EndSARS movement drew nationwide and international attention as young Nigerians demanded an end to police brutality, extrajudicial killings and other forms of misconduct by security personnel.
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In his anniversary message, Obi said the country must learn from the tragedy and build institutions that protect citizens rather than suppress their rights.
“As we remember the victims, I reaffirm my belief that a New Nigeria is possible—a country where citizens are protected, not brutalised; where young people are heard, not silenced; and where government power is exercised with responsibility and respect for human rights,” he said.
The NDC candidate also stressed that Nigerians should be able to demand better governance without fear of punishment or violence.
“Nigeria must become a nation where no citizen is punished for demanding good governance and a better future,” he said.
Obi concluded his message by paying tribute to those who died and calling on Nigerians to sustain the pursuit of a country where such violence would never happen again.
“May the souls of the departed continue to rest in peace. May their sacrifice strengthen our resolve to build a Nigeria where this tragedy will never be repeated,” he said.
He ended the statement with his familiar political message: “A New Nigeria is POssible. A Nigeria where every life matters. -PO”