Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress presidential candidate, used the sixth anniversary of the October 20, 2020 Lekki tollgate shootings to demand that the killers be arrested and brought to trial. In a post on X, the activist asked bluntly, “Where are the killers? Who ordered the shootings at Lekki Toll Gate? Who has been prosecuted?” His statement, timed to mark the grim milestone, reignited calls for accountability for the security forces that opened fire on peaceful demonstrators during the EndSARS protests.
Sowore’s appeal went beyond naming individual shooters. He pressed for a full‑scale inquiry into the chain of command that oversaw the operation, specifically naming Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo‑Olu and senior military and police officers who were on duty that night. The candidate also urged investigators to probe longstanding allegations that surveillance cameras at the toll plaza were deliberately removed before the incident, a claim that has haunted the public discourse since the massacre.
The former activist‑turned‑politician reminded Nigerians that the EndSARS movement was never limited to a demand to disband the Special Anti‑Robbery Squad. According to his statement, the protests represented a broader outcry against systemic police brutality, extortion and extrajudicial killings. By framing the Lekki tollgate shootings as a “massacre,” Sowore emphasized the scale of state violence that left dozens dead and many more injured, a wound that, in his view, remains untreated.
In a pledge that ties his political ambition to the cause, Sowore said that if elected president in 2027 his administration would reopen the investigation, trace the full chain of command and prosecute anyone found culpable, irrespective of rank or political affiliation. He reiterated that justice should not be contingent on “political connections or official status.” The candidate’s campaign slogan, #Sowore2027, has been paired with the promise to “fish out the killers behind the Lekki tollgate massacre.”
The call for accountability arrives at a time when many Nigerians feel the trauma of the 2020 protests is being brushed aside. Over the past six years, families of victims have repeatedly demanded answers, yet official inquiries have yielded few convictions. The removal of CCTV footage, a point Sowore highlighted, remains a contentious issue; former officials have denied any tampering, while eyewitnesses claim the cameras were taken down in the hours leading up to the shooting.
Political analysts note that Sowore’s renewed focus on the Lekki tollgate shootings could reshape the narrative of the upcoming 2027 elections. By positioning himself as the champion of unresolved grievances, he hopes to tap into the lingering anger among youths who first took to the streets in 2020. The candidate’s statement also singled out former President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime, suggesting that the impunity enjoyed by security operatives then continues to shield current officials.
Human rights groups have welcomed the renewed attention, though they caution that rhetoric must translate into concrete action. A spokesperson for the Coalition for the Protection of Human Rights in Nigeria said that any future probe must be independent, fully funded and protected from political interference. They added that without transparent forensic analysis and witness protection, past attempts at truth‑finding have fallen short.
The Lagos State government, through its official channels, has not responded directly to Sowore’s accusations. Governor Sanwo‑Olu’s office typically refers queries about the 2020 incident to the federal Ministry of Defence and the Nigeria Police Force, both of which have maintained that the operation was conducted in line with national security protocols. No senior officer involved in the October 2020 deployment has been publicly charged, a fact that Sowore highlighted as evidence of “impunity.”
As the anniversary passes, civil society organisations plan commemorative events at the tollgate site, intending to keep the memory of the victims alive. Organisers say the gatherings will feature moments of silence, speeches from survivors and calls for a judicial commission of inquiry. They hope the public pressure will force the federal government to act before the next election cycle.
Sowore concluded his X post with a stark reminder that the bloodshed at Lekki has not been forgotten. He warned that “the politicians who presided over that bloody repression may want Nigerians to forget. We will never forget.” The candidate’s final promise, to reopen investigations, uncover the full chain of command and prosecute all responsible parties, remains a key plank of his 2027 campaign platform.
The next step, according to the activist, is for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the EFCC to receive clear directives from a future administration to pursue the case without delay. Until then, the families of the Lekki tollgate shootings continue to wait for the justice that has eluded them for six years.
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