ActionAid Nigeria Demands Police Investigation After Tear Gas Use

ActionAid Nigeria has demanded an investigation into the police's use of tear gas against peaceful participants at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos during the sixth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests on October 20. The statement, signed by Country Director Andrew Mamedu, condemned the police action as a setback for police accountability and citizens' rights.

Mamedu stated that it is unacceptable for Nigerians commemorating the lives lost during the 2020 protests to face intimidation while exercising their constitutional rights. He emphasized that the grievances that led to the 2020 protests remain unresolved and that peaceful remembrance should not be met with repression.

ActionAid Nigeria called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to investigate the incident and hold accountable any officers responsible for unlawful force. The organization also urged the Federal Government to implement recommendations from judicial panels established after the protests, including accountability for human rights violations and compensation for victims' families.