Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Lagos State, and Funso Doherty, governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), were among residents and journalists teargassed by police at the Lekki tollgate on Tuesday morning.
The politicians had joined a wreath-laying memorial organised by the Enough is Enough (EiE) movement to honour victims of the October 2020 #EndSARS protests.
However, police officers who had gathered at the tollgate before the memorial began dispersed the crowd with teargas canisters, making it impossible for the wreaths to be laid.
The incident triggered panic as participants fled for safety. Some people sustained injuries, while others struggled to breathe amid the teargas fumes. Traffic also began to build up along the busy expressway.
According to the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry’s report on the October 20, 2020, Lekki incident, nine people were confirmed dead, while four others were listed as missing and presumed dead.
The nine people listed as dead were Victor Sunday Ibanga, Abuta Solomon, Jide, Olalekan Abideen Ashafa, Olamilekan Ajasa, Kolade Salami, Folorunsho Olabisi, Kenechukwu Ugoh and Nathaniel Solomon.
Those listed as missing and presumed dead were Abiodun Adesanya, Ifeanyi Nicholas Eji, Tola and Wisdom.
The organisers said they had brought 15 wreaths to the venue, including one for Pelumi Onifade, a journalist who was shot dead in Lagos during the nationwide protests against police brutality.
Boluwatife Enome
Follow us on:
