Police officers reportedly fired tear gas to disperse a gathering at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos on Tuesday, affecting Lagos governorship candidates Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Funso Doherty of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The incident occurred as activists and other participants gathered to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the October 2020 #EndSARS protests and honour those who lost their lives during demonstrations against police brutality.
According to reports, the candidates had joined a wreath-laying ceremony organised by the Enough is Enough Movement at the toll gate, a site closely associated with the 2020 protests.
The memorial was disrupted when police operatives deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd. Footage from the scene showed participants scrambling to escape as the gas spread through the area.
The disruption prevented the planned wreath-laying ceremony from proceeding as intended, according to media reports.
The gathering was organised to remember victims of the #EndSARS protests, which began in October 2020 as a nationwide movement against alleged abuses by the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The demonstrations grew into wider calls for police accountability and reforms.
The Lekki Toll Gate became a focal point of the movement following the events of October 20, 2020, when soldiers opened fire during a protest at the location. The circumstances surrounding the incident, including the number of casualties and questions of accountability, have remained subjects of public debate.
Tuesday’s incident has renewed attention on the handling of public gatherings at the toll gate during #EndSARS anniversary commemorations.
As of the reports available, the reason for the police action had not been established, and no official explanation from the Lagos State Police Command was included.
HAPPENING NOW:
Tear Gas Fired at #EndSARS Memorial Participants at Lekki Toll Gate, Lagos. pic.twitter.com/xMjazrzoiM
— CHUKS 🍥 (@ChuksEricE) October 20, 2026
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