Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Obafemi Hamzat, has defended the state government’s handling of the aftermath of the October 2020 Lekki tollgate incident, saying several recommendations of the judicial panel set up to investigate the episode were implemented.
Hamzat spoke on Sunday during the Lagos Governorship Debate organised by the Nigeria Debate Consortium, comprising The PUNCH, Channels Television, TVC News, TheCable and Vanguard.
Responding to a question about his personal knowledge of the security decisions taken on October 20, 2020, when soldiers were deployed to the tollgate where #EndSARS protesters had gathered, the deputy governor acknowledged that he was part of the administration at the time.
“October 20, 2020, is a very sad day in Lagos. Very sad. I will not stand here to say I’m not the deputy governor. I was in the room,” he said.
He said the state government subsequently established an independent judicial commission to investigate the incident and submitted its findings.
“Remember, Lagos set up a judicial commission, funded and independent, to find the truth. They did their report. Lagos also did a white paper, implementing a lot of those decisions,” Hamzat stated.
He also reaffirmed the government’s position that citizens had the right to protest.
“We believe people have the right to protest,” he said.
The #EndSARS demonstrations began in October 2020 following widespread complaints of police brutality, harassment, extortion and extrajudicial killings, particularly involving operatives of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
The protests spread across several states, with the Lekki tollgate becoming a major demonstration ground in Lagos.
On October 20, 2020, soldiers were deployed to the tollgate, where protesters were gathered. The incident generated widespread outrage and calls for accountability.
In response, the Lagos State Government inaugurated a nine-member Judicial Panel of Inquiry on October 19, 2020, chaired by retired Justice Doris Okuwobi. The panel was tasked with investigating allegations of police brutality and human rights violations, including the shooting of protesters at the tollgate.
After 131 sittings, the panel concluded its proceedings in October 2021 and submitted its report to the state government on November 15, 2021. It also awarded N410m in compensation to 70 victims of police brutality and other human rights abuses.
In its report on the Lekki incident, the panel found that soldiers fired at unarmed protesters, resulting in deaths and injuries. It described the incident as a massacre in the context of its findings and raised concerns about the subsequent handling of the scene.
The panel made 32 recommendations, including compensation for victims, prosecution of security personnel implicated in the incident, improved police accountability, a public apology and the establishment of a memorial at the tollgate.
However, the Lagos State Government’s White Paper, released on November 30, 2021, accepted 11 recommendations, accepted six with modifications, rejected one and referred 14 to the Federal Government on the grounds that they fell outside the state’s jurisdiction.
The government also rejected the panel’s finding that nine people were killed by gunfire at the tollgate, arguing that the conclusion was not supported by sufficient evidence and contained inconsistencies.
The White Paper and the government’s response to the panel’s findings continued to attract criticism, with activists and affected families demanding full accountability and implementation of the recommendations.
On October 20, 2022, police fired tear gas to disperse protesters who gathered at the Lekki tollgate to mark the second anniversary of the demonstrations.
The procession was attended by entertainer Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, and comedian Adebowale Adedayo, also known as Mr Macaroni. Participants carried placards and coffins in remembrance of those who died during the protests.
The then Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, said officers deployed tear gas after some protesters stopped at the tollgate and caused traffic congestion. He maintained that the procession was expected to remain in motion.
Those arrested during the exercise were later released after the crowd was dispersed.
