Global Rights has called on the Nigerian Government to ensure accountability for the killing of protesters during the 2020 #EndSARS demonstrations, six years after the incident at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos.
The human rights organisation made the demand in a statement issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, to mark the sixth anniversary of the incident, lamenting that justice for victims and their families remains elusive.
According to Global Rights, at least 135 protesters were extrajudicially killed across Nigeria during the #EndSARS protests, which were organised to demand an end to police brutality, unlawful arrests, extortion, torture and impunity among security personnel.
The organisation’s Executive Director, Abiodun Baiyewu, said the demands that brought Nigerians to the streets in 2020 remained largely unmet, while the alleged continued use of excessive force against protesters had further undermined public confidence in security institutions.
Global Rights also expressed concern over the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests, during which it said it documented the killing of at least 31 protesters by police officers across several states and the arbitrary arrest of 1,135 demonstrators, including children as young as 13.
The organisation further stated that it had recorded at least 545 extrajudicial killings by security forces across the country since the 2024 protests, describing the situation as evidence of persistent impunity and the failure to adequately protect citizens’ fundamental rights.
On the Lekki Toll Gate incident, Global Rights recalled that the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry, in its 2021 findings, implicated the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force in the shooting of unarmed protesters.
It said the panel documented alleged human rights violations and recommended accountability, compensation for victims and reforms in the security sector, but added that the Lagos State Government subsequently rejected key findings of the report.
The organisation also cited a 2024 judgment by the ECOWAS Court of Justice, which found Nigeria responsible for human rights violations arising from the incident and ordered a fresh investigation, prosecution of those responsible and compensation for victims.
However, Global Rights said the judgment had not been fully implemented two years after it was delivered, while those responsible had yet to be held accountable through the process ordered by the court.
The organisation further recalled that on October 20, 2024, police officers allegedly harassed and arrested protesters who gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the shootings.
It warned that the continued failure to investigate alleged abuses, prosecute offenders and compensate victims could deepen public distrust in government and weaken national cohesion, particularly amid Nigeria’s persistent security challenges.
Global Rights called on the Federal Government to immediately implement the ECOWAS Court judgment, establish transparent public platforms for reporting progress on investigations and prosecutions, provide reparations for victims and their families, and guarantee citizens’ right to peaceful assembly.
It also urged the Lagos State Government to publicly explain its response to the recommendations of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry, specifying those implemented, those still outstanding and the steps required to fulfil the accepted recommendations.
The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to standing with victims and their families, as well as Nigerians advocating an end to police brutality and the protection of citizens’ rights.
“ No state institution is above the law,” the organisation maintained, reiterating its call for justice, accountability and respect for fundamental human rights.
