Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has renewed calls for accountability over the October 2020 Lekki Toll Gate shooting, asking who authorised the use of force against protesters six years after the incident.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, raised the question in a post on his X account on Tuesday, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of failing to provide satisfactory answers to Nigerians.
He said the country was still waiting for an explanation over the incident that became one of the most controversial episodes in Nigeria’s recent history.
“Six years after the Lekki shooting, Nigeria is still waiting for a clear answer to one devastating question: Who gave the order?” Atiku asked.
The former vice-president also criticized President Bola Tinubu’s response to the protests in 2020, arguing that attention had been directed towards questioning the demonstrators rather than demanding accountability for the violence.
According to Atiku, the absence of satisfactory answers has deepened public distrust and prolonged the pain of families who lost loved ones or are still seeking justice.
He maintained that the anger surrounding the EndSARS anniversary should not be dismissed as social media activity, describing it instead as an expression of unresolved grief and frustration among Nigerians.
Atiku argued that the APC, having governed the country for six years since the incident, must address the questions surrounding the shooting and demonstrate that the lives of young Nigerians matter.
He also linked the unresolved issues surrounding EndSARS to the economic difficulties facing many households, citing the rising cost of petrol, which he put at ₦1,405 per litre.
The ADC presidential candidate said increasing transport expenses and the cost of basic necessities had made life increasingly difficult for workers, students and families.
To illustrate the pressure on workers, Atiku recounted the experience of a young woman who reportedly resigned from her job because her salary could no longer cover her transportation costs.
He argued that the situation reflected a wider economic problem in which having a job no longer necessarily guaranteed the ability to meet basic expenses.
Atiku said his economic recovery plan was designed to address these challenges through measures aimed at reducing living costs, boosting domestic production, supporting minimum-wage earners and providing assistance to students.
He also proposed passing savings linked to domestically refined fuel on to consumers and reducing government waste to finance support measures without introducing additional taxes.
The former vice-president maintained that Nigerians deserved both the truth about the Lekki shooting and economic policies that would give young people a fair opportunity to build their future.
The EndSARS protests began in 2020 as a nationwide campaign against police brutality, particularly abuses associated with the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The demonstrations expanded into broader demands for accountability, police reform and respect for human rights.
The Lekki Toll Gate incident of October 20, 2020, remains a subject of public debate, with calls for transparency and accountability continuing to feature prominently during the anniversary.
Atiku’s latest comments have once again brought the unresolved questions surrounding the incident into the political spotlight, alongside concerns about the country’s economic challenges.
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