#EndBadGovernance Movement, a coalition of civil society groups and activists, has declared today, Sunday October 20, 2024 as a day to honour the martyrs of the collective struggle for liberty to liberate Nigeria.
To this end, the Lagos chapter of the group, in a statement made available to Sunday Independent, has announced some activities that will mark the day to include memorial procession, speeches, prayers and laying of wreaths at Lekki Toll Gate.
The group’s statement jointly signed by Hassan Taiwo-Soweto, Osugba Blessing and Oloye Adegboyega-Adeniji, noted that Sunday October 20, 2024 makes it four years since scores of protesters were massacred by the Nigerian Army and the Police at the Lekki Toll Gate during the #EndSARS protest, which erupted nationwide in October 2020.
It said: “To honour these martyrs of our collective struggle for liberty, the #EndBadGovernance Movement, Lagos State, has decided to join other groups, victims of SARS and Police brutality and their families, as well as Nigerians of goodwill at the Lekki Toll Gate on Sunday October 20, 2024 for a memorial procession and rally, prayers and laying of wreath at the scene of the massacre four years ago.
“We hereby call on all Nigerian people and youth to troop out en masse on October 20, 2024 to honour the martyrs of #EndSARS.”
The group recalled that four years ago, the #EndSARS protest took place in the context of decades of widespread police brutality in Nigeria, committed by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other Police formations, especially against young people.
It added: “However, the #EndSARS protest was also about the condition of inequality, lack of access to affordable and quality public education, healthcare, shelter and decent jobs and the bleak future that faces many in a country endowed with huge wealth, but whose potential for growth and progress has been stymied by corruption and capitalism.
“This explains why the first mention of the slogan #EndBadGovernance actually emerged in the last days of the #EndSARS protest in October 2020, as young protesters began to realise that ending the rogue SARS Police Unit without ending the corrupt and inequitable system that gave rise to it, was not enough.
“This shows how much our struggle to end bad governance today owes to the efforts and sacrifices of our heroes past four years ago.
“Sadly, the Federal Government, the Army and the Lagos State government have continued to deny that any killings occurred at Lekki Toll Gate despite the abundance of evidence available, as well as the report of a Judicial Panel of Inquiry.
“As we march out peacefully once again on Sunday, October 20, 2024 to honour the martyrs of #EndSARS, we shall continue to demand and fight for justice for all those killed and maimed in the struggle, as well as freedom for all #EndBadGovernance protesters in captivity or undergoing trial nationwide.” (Saturday Independent)
