Former Anambra State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has commemorated the sixth anniversary of the October 20, 2020, #EndSARS protests, renewing calls for justice, accountability and respect for human rights in Nigeria.
In a message marking the anniversary on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, Obi described the Lekki Toll Gate shootings as a painful reminder of the sacrifices made by Nigerian youths in their demand for a better country.
According to him, the events of that night, when protesters were reportedly confronted with gunfire, left the nation with enduring questions about justice, accountability and the value placed on human life.
“We must never forget. We must never normalise injustice,” Obi declared in his anniversary message.
The NDC presidential candidate said the remembrance of the victims should go beyond mourning, stressing the need to build a country where citizens are protected rather than brutalised, young people are heard rather than silenced, and public officials exercise power responsibly.
He reaffirmed his belief that a New Nigeria is possible, calling for a society where no citizen faces punishment for demanding good governance and a better future.
Obi also urged Nigerians to keep alive the ideals that inspired the #EndSARS movement, which began as a nationwide protest against alleged police brutality, extortion, harassment and other abuses associated with the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The protests attracted widespread participation from young Nigerians and drew international attention to concerns about policing and human rights in the country.
The events at the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020, remain among the most contentious episodes in Nigeria’s recent history, with continuing public demands for transparency, accountability and justice for victims.
Six years later, the anniversary has once again brought renewed attention to police reform, the protection of civil liberties and the responsibility of government to safeguard the lives and rights of citizens.
Concluding his message, Obi prayed for the peaceful repose of those who lost their lives and called for their sacrifice to strengthen the collective determination to prevent a recurrence of such a tragedy.
“May their sacrifice strengthen our resolve to build a Nigeria where this tragedy will never be repeated,” he said.
He ended with his familiar declaration: “A New Nigeria is POssible. A Nigeria where every life matters.”
**#EndSARS #LekkiTollGate #PeterObi #JusticeForEndSARS #HumanRights #ANewNigeriaIsPossible**
