Police officers on Tuesday dispersed participants at an #EndSARS memorial at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos with teargas, affecting African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate Funso Doherty, residents and journalists.

The incident occurred during a wreath-laying ceremony organised by the Enough is Enough (EiE) movement to commemorate victims of the October 2020 protests against police brutality.

Witnesses said officers deployed teargas at the venue before the ceremony could proceed, forcing participants to flee and preventing the organisers from laying the wreaths.

The incident caused panic, with some attendees reportedly sustaining injuries while others experienced breathing difficulties from the teargas.

Traffic congestion also developed along the busy expressway as the crowd dispersed.

The memorial was organised to honour those who lost their lives during the #EndSARS protests, which drew nationwide demonstrations against police brutality in October 2020.

According to the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry’s report on the October 20, 2020 incident at the Lekki tollgate, nine people were confirmed dead, while four others were listed as missing and presumed dead.

The nine individuals identified as dead in the report 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 tollgate for the memorial, including one dedicated to Pelumi Onifade, a journalist who was shot dead in Lagos during the nationwide protests against police brutality.

The wreath-laying ceremony was intended to pay tribute to victims of the protests and renew calls for accountability over abuses associated with the demonstrations.