Amanze Chinonye
The currency of democracy is trust, trust that those elected will govern in good faith and uphold the welfare and security of all citizens.
For years, that trust has been stretched thin in Nigeria. And on October 20, 2020, when armed security forces opened fire on peaceful protesters holding the Nigerian flag and singing the national anthem at the Lekki Toll Gate, it shattered completely.
Five years later, that trust deficit endures. No one has been held accountable for the killings. The judicial panels of inquiry set up across the country have submitted their reports, yet their findings remain largely ignored. The systemic reforms demanded by citizens to end police brutality, corruption, and impunity have gone unfulfilled. Instead, Nigeria’s civic space continues to shrink, while the same patterns of state overreach persist.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelA Cry Beyond Police Brutality
The #EndSARS movement of 2020 was more than a protest against police violence; it was an outcry against years of governance failure, injustice, and hopelessness. Nigerian youths, students, creators, and professionals marched across the nation, united by one demand: dignity.
Their five-point demands were clear justice for victims of police abuse, compensation for affected families, independent oversight of police misconduct, reform of policing practices, and improved welfare for officers.
Yet, five years later, the lessons of that movement remain unlearned.
When the State Fears Its Citizens
The government’s handling of the #EndBadGovernance protests in 2024 laid bare how little had changed. Instead of addressing the root causes of citizens’ frustration spiralling inflation, worsening insecurity, and deepening poverty the state responded with familiar aggression.
According to Amnesty International it report counted at least 24 deaths during the protests and noted that figure may be higher. Several minors were detained for waving a foreign flag. The haunting images of malnourished children charged with treason remain a grim reminder that peaceful dissent in Nigeria remains perilous.
Global Rights: Justice Delayed is Democracy Denied
In a statement marking the anniversary, Abiodun Baiyewu, Executive Director of Global Rights, described the killings of October 20, 2020, as “a gross crime against Nigeria’s democracy.”
She lamented that five years later, accountability remains elusive, with neither justice for the victims nor reform of the security system.
Global Rights renewed its four key demands:
- Accountability: Identify, arrest, and prosecute those who ordered and carried out the Lekki shootings, and those who concealed the truth.
- Reform: Implement, in full, the recommendations of the judicial panels of inquiry.
- Respect for Rights: Retrain security agents to manage protests through de-escalation and respect for democratic rights.
- Civic Protection: End the misuse of the Cybercrime Act to harass journalists and silence dissent.
“No government enjoys criticism,” Baiyewu said. “But strong democracies use it as feedback. The right to protest is not a privilege granted by the state; it is a democratic right that protects the state itself from tyranny.”
READ ALSO: #EndSARS 3rd Anniversary: Nigerian Celebrities Commemorate Victims
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A Shrinking Civic Space
In Nigeria, however, peaceful dissent remains risky. Journalists, activists, and social media users continue to face arrest under cybercrime and defamation laws originally designed to curb online fraud. During the 2024 protests, many citizens chose silence out of fear that history might repeat itself.
This atmosphere of fear, not apathy, is what defines the civic landscape five years after EndSARS. It signals a democracy in distress one that must relearn how to listen to its people.
Echoes of Remembrance
This year, there was no physical protest planned at the Lekki Toll Gate, but tributes and online memorials flooded social media, uniting Nigerians in grief and remembrance.
Popular skit maker and activist Mr Macaroni, who was among those arrested during the 2021 memorial, wrote:
“Nigerian youths lost their lives, jobs, families and dreams at the hands of the most corrupt and evil people we call leaders! Even though my people are now in love with their oppressors, this day 20/10/2020 is never to be forgotten nor forgiven!”
Human rights advocate Fatai Nuru posted:
“Today, we honor the memory of the heroes who stood for justice, truth, and freedom. Their bravery remains a symbol of hope and resilience for every Nigerian. May their sacrifice never be forgotten, and may their spirits guide us on the path to a truly liberated Nigeria.”
Medical activist OurFavOnlineDoc wrote:
“It is 5 years today. We will never forget. We will always remember 20.10.20. May those who died find rest. May their families find consolation. May their killers never know peace.”
Leading EndSARS figure Rinu Oduala added:
“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.”
Activist Temitope also commemorated the day, writing:
“Rest in power to all comrades lost in the struggle for a better Nigeria. May all those who once fought beside us but have now joined the oppressors for money and connections not find peace.”
Their voices, though spoken online, echoed across the nation reminders that memory is resistance.
The Legacy and the Warning
Five years after the shots rang out, Lekki Toll Gate stands as a symbol of courage, of betrayal, and of unfinished justice. The faces of the fallen have become symbols of defiance, and their memory a moral compass for a generation determined to reclaim Nigeria’s democracy.
“May we never again allow our nation to descend into the darkness of October 20, 2020,” Global Rights declared. “Justice delayed is democracy denied.”
Five years on, Nigeria’s youths continue to carry that message from the streets to social media, from music to policy refusing to let silence bury their truth.
The candles may have dimmed at Lekki, but the fire of EndSARS still burns.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
