Nigeria: Activists to protest in Lagos Oct. 20; similar gatherings likely elsewhere

Event

#EndSARS activists have called for a gathering at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos from 08:00-11:00 Oct. 20 to commemorate a 2020 shooting incident. The procession will likely draw hundreds of participants. It is unclear whether permission has been granted for the gathering. Ahead of the 2021 anniversary, police authorities in Lagos had warned that they would use whatever means necessary to quell the planned protests.

Other gatherings are likely. Likely protest locations include city centers in Abuja, Ibadan (Oyo State), and Akure (Ondo State). Police will certainly deploy to monitor any protest sites that materialize and may use force to disperse protesters. Due to the anti-police nature of the gathering, the potential for clashes with security forces is elevated. Increased security measures, including movement restrictions, will likely prompt transport and business disruptions at protest sites.

Context

The #EndSARS social media campaign initially started in 2017 to demand the disbanding of the Special Anti-Robbery Unit (SARS) police unit. The movement grew in October 2020, and mass protests were held across Nigeria, with demonstrations leading to several fatal clashes between protesters and security forces. Authorities implemented security restrictions, including curfews, in several areas, such as Lagos, Osun, and Ekiti states. On Oct. 20, 2020, Nigerian security forces opened fire at protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate, killing an unspecified number of persons (casualty toll ranges from two to 12 deaths). Related unrest has sporadically continued despite the dismantlement of the police unit.

Advice

Avoid all protests due to the potential for clashes. Allow extra time for travel near demonstration sites. Heed the instructions of local security personnel and leave the area immediately if violence breaks out nearby.