#EndSARS Memorial Procession: Celebrities Falz, Mr Macaroni, others solidarized; Nigerian Police disperse protesters at Lekki toll gate with tear gas
Some Nigerian youths on Thursday, October 20 converged on the Lekki tollgate to mark the second memorial of the #EndSARS protest in the country.
Popular Nigerian singer, Folarin Falana, aka Falz joined hundreds of Nigerian youths on Thursday, October 20, 2022, to commemorate the second anniversary of the #EndSARS movement.
Falz who said the protest is not political explained that he joined the procession in remembrance of those who lost their lives two years ago at the Lekki toll gate, adding that the government is denying that people were killed at the toll gate.
“Government dey try deny say e happen, but we will never let that happen,” Falz said in pidgin English.
“We no com cause trouble for here o, na our people wey dem kill October 20, 2020, na dem we come here con remember; that is why we are here.
“We no wan make anybody make this movement say na political anything. These coffins we dey here so, make we carry dem go tollgate, these coffins are very symbolic. Na here wey dem kill our people, so we go throw this coffin for them, na them get am,” he added in pidgin English as he led the protesters.
Similarly, comedian and social justice activist Debo Adedayo, aka Mr. Macaroni, also tweeted that he would be participating in the event to honour the memory of those killed by police brutality.
“Peaceful walk tomorrow in honour of all #EndSars and police brutality victims. We no go fit ever forget!!!!” he tweeted.
Personnel of the Lagos State Police Command which had to deploy heavy personnel and vehicles to Lekki Toll Gate in the early hour of the day used teargas to disperse protesters at the toll gate which forced some of the protesters to leave.
In a tweet on Thursday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed that some youths were dispersed with teargas.
In October 2020 it would be recalled, youths across the country took to the streets to demand an end to police brutality and extrajudicial killings by the disbanded special anti-robbery squad (SARS).
The tollgate was the epicentre of the protests. Youths who gathered day and night at the toll gate were dispersed from the location by gun-wielding soldiers on October 20, 2020, an action which led to the loss of lives.
