Lekki Toll Gate Killings: ‘Who Ordered the Shootings?’ – Sowore Calls for Arrest

Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has renewed calls for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the shootings at the Lekki Toll Gate during the #EndSARS protests, questioning why Nigerians are still waiting for accountability six years after the incident.

Sowore made the demand on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, while marking the sixth anniversary of the shootings that occurred during demonstrations against police brutality in Lagos.

In a post on X, the activist questioned why the identities of those responsible for the shootings had not been conclusively established through prosecutions.

“Where are the killers? Who ordered the shootings at Lekki Toll Gate? Who has been prosecuted?” he asked.

Sowore also called for investigations into the roles of political leaders, military commanders and police officials allegedly connected to the incident.

His comments have renewed attention on one of the most controversial episodes in Nigeria’s recent history, as activists and survivors continue to demand justice for victims of the October 20, 2020, shootings.

Sowore demands answers six years after the incident

The Lekki Toll Gate shootings occurred during the nationwide #EndSARS protests, which began as a movement against alleged abuses by the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

On the night of October 20, 2020, soldiers were deployed to the toll gate, where protesters had gathered. The shooting that followed attracted widespread condemnation and prompted demands for an independent investigation into the conduct of security personnel.

Six years later, Sowore argues that the public still deserves clear answers about who authorised the deployment, who issued operational orders and whether individuals found responsible for unlawful acts have been prosecuted.

The activist also questioned allegations that surveillance cameras at the toll gate were removed before the shootings, calling for the circumstances surrounding the cameras and the handling of potential evidence to be investigated.

The allegations concerning the cameras and the responsibilities of specific individuals require evidence and investigation; they should not be treated as proof of criminal wrongdoing by any named person.

Sowore names political and security figures

In his anniversary message, Sowore called for investigations into the roles of Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, military and police commanders, and other individuals he believes should be examined as part of efforts to establish responsibility for the incident.

His demand forms part of a broader call to determine the chain of command behind the deployment of soldiers and the events that unfolded at the toll gate.

Sowore said that if elected president in 2027, his administration would reopen investigations into the incident, establish who ordered and authorised the shootings, and prosecute anyone found culpable, regardless of rank or political connections.

The pledge is a campaign commitment by the AAC presidential candidate. It does not establish that the individuals he mentioned have been found criminally responsible.

Any criminal liability would need to be determined through the appropriate legal process, based on admissible evidence.

What the Lagos judicial panel found

The Lagos State Government established a Judicial Panel of Inquiry to investigate police brutality and related incidents, including the Lekki Toll Gate shootings.

In its report, made public through media accounts in November 2021, the panel concluded that Nigerian Army personnel shot, injured and killed unarmed protesters at the toll gate. It described the conduct in the context of the incident as a massacre.

The panel also raised concerns about the conduct of security personnel and the treatment of evidence following the shootings.

The Nigerian Army disputed key aspects of the accounts surrounding the incident, including allegations about the number of people killed. Military testimony before the panel included an account that soldiers had been ordered to fire into the air.

These competing accounts have contributed to continuing public debate about the circumstances of the shootings and the extent to which responsibility has been established.

The panel’s findings remain an important part of the public record, but the question of individual criminal responsibility is distinct from the findings of an inquiry.

EndSARS activists continue to demand justice

The #EndSARS movement emerged after years of complaints about alleged police harassment, extortion, torture and extrajudicial killings, particularly involving SARS.

The protests spread across Nigeria in October 2020, drawing thousands of young people who demanded an end to police abuses and changes to the country’s security system.

Although the government announced the dissolution of SARS, protesters and rights advocates continued to call for accountability, compensation for victims and reforms to prevent further abuses.

The Lekki Toll Gate became a lasting symbol of the movement because of the events of October 20, 2020.

For survivors and families of those affected, anniversary gatherings are an opportunity to remember the incident and renew calls for justice.

Sowore’s latest comments come amid renewed public attention on the shootings and the continuing dispute over whether those responsible have faced adequate legal consequences.

Calls for accountability remain unresolved

The renewed demand for arrests places the spotlight on the need for transparent investigations, evidence preservation and due process.

Establishing responsibility for the shootings requires investigators and prosecutors to determine who authorised the deployment, what orders were given, how those orders were implemented and whether particular actions violated Nigerian law.

The allegations concerning individual officials must be assessed on the evidence rather than political claims alone.

For Sowore and other advocates, the central issue is that the victims and their families deserve answers about what happened at the toll gate and whether those responsible will be held accountable.

As the sixth anniversary of the incident is marked, the question raised by the activist remains central to the public debate: who ordered the shootings, and what steps have been taken to establish responsibility?

Source: Independent Newspaper Nigeria, Naija News and Channels Television.