Lagos police deployed teargas on Tuesday morning to clear a crowd at the Lekki tollgate. The gathering, organized by the Enough is Enough movement, aimed to commemorate those who perished during the 2020 #EndSARS demonstrations. According to Punch, the presence of residents, media personnel, and political leaders was disrupted before the planned wreath-laying could occur. Officers fired canisters into the air, forcing attendees to move quickly as the gas filled the area.
Premium Times noted that the event was scheduled for 11 a.m. Organizers intended to place 15 wreaths: nine for individuals confirmed dead by a judicial panel, four for those presumed missing, and two for other victims including journalist Pelumi Onifade. A reporter from the outlet observed police and residual teargas at the site shortly after the scheduled time, though the exact trigger for the dispersal remained unclear at that moment.
Political figures present included Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, representing the African Democratic Congress, and Funso Doherty of the Nigeria Democratic Congress. Both were among the Lagos State governorship candidates affected by the police action. The disruption occurred as advocacy groups intensified pressure on the government. RULAAC, a local rights body, argued that the earlier removal of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad did not fully resolve issues of brutality and unlawful detention. The group urged authorities to enforce the 2020 Police Act and the 2017 Anti-Torture Act.
Another organization, CAPPA, pushed for a formal apology from federal and state leaders. It highlighted a 2024 ECOWAS court ruling that held Nigeria liable for human rights violations. CAPPA also suggested preserving the tollgate as a national site and equipping officers with body cameras. This latest incident follows a 2025 court order that required police to pay damages to protesters from a previous anniversary gathering, reinforcing a history of friction at the site.