On October 20, 2020, armed soldiers opened fire on peaceful #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate, Lagos State, which was regarded as the epicentre of the nationwide protests. The demonstrators were demanding an end to police brutality, extortions and extrajudicial killings by the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
Although they were only holding a peaceful vigil that fateful night with Nigerian flags in their hands and singing the national anthem, the soldiers arrived in the evening and opened fire on the crowd of protesters. Many people were killed during the shooting.
Reports had it that more soldiers and policemen later came to the scene as reinforcements and continued the shooting amid cries of pain from some dying and injured protesters, with the Nigerian flags in their hands being stained with blood, which stood as evidence of the brutal killings despite denials by then government of Muhammadu Buhari and security agencies.
According to Amnesty International which gave a conservative figure, at least 12 protesters were killed, and many others were injured in the shooting, which has become notorious as the #LekkiTollGateMassacre with a symbolic expression and date, ''We Will Never Forget Black Tuesday 20:10:2020.
The tragic incident was a dark day in the Nigerian history and marked a painful turning point in the #EndSARS movement. It also sparked national outrage and condemnation from the international community, even as report said that some protesters are still in detention.
The #EndSARS protest eventually ended with some gains recorded, however, many youths paid the ultimate price fighting for an end to SARS, their brutality and police reforms in Nigeria. Amid relentless demand for justice and memorial of the shooting incident, many Nigerians are still asking one key question, ''Who ordered the Lekki Tollgate shooting?''
Other key events on this day
1. Libyan dictator Muammar al‑Gaddafi killed - 2011
2. Queen Elizabeth II opened Sydney Opera House - 1973
3. South Africa began the trial of Nelson Mandela and 8 others over conspiracy - 1963
4. U.S. President, Richard Nixon fired Watergate accuser, Archibald Cox 1973
5. Former American first lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, married Greek shipping magnet, Aristotle Onassis - 1968
6. War broke out between India and China - 1962
7. Mao Tse Tung and his Communist forces ended their "Long March" at Yan'an, in Shaanxi China - 1935
8. A stampede during a UEFA Cup football match at the Lenin Stadium in Moscow left about 60 people dead - 1982.
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