Former Vice-President accuses APC of failing to deliver accountability over #EndSARS incident, says Nigerians need justice and economic relief
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has renewed calls for accountability over the October 20, 2020, Lekki Toll Gate shooting, asking the Federal Government to explain who authorized the action against #EndSARS protesters six years after the incident.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, made the call on Tuesday in a statement posted on his X account to mark the sixth anniversary of the shooting in Lagos.
“Six years after the Lekki shooting, Nigeria is still waiting for a clear answer to one devastating question: Who gave the order?” he asked.
The former vice-president accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of failing to provide satisfactory answers about the incident, insisting that Nigerians, particularly young people, deserved accountability and a clearer understanding of what happened.
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Atiku criticizes Tinubu’s response
Atiku also criticized President Bola Tinubu’s response to the incident in October 2020, arguing that the president’s remarks appeared to question the protesters who suffered casualties rather than demand answers from those responsible for the violence.
According to him, the absence of satisfactory answers has deepened public distrust and prolonged the pain of families seeking justice.
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“The anger trending across the country today is not a social media performance. It is grief that has been left to harden into distrust,” Atiku said.
He added that many young Nigerians who participated in the #EndSARS protests had demanded dignity, better policing and an end to police brutality, only to be left frustrated by what he described as the country’s failure to deliver the truth they deserved.
Atiku further argued that the APC, having governed Nigeria during the six years following the incident, should address the unresolved questions surrounding the shooting.
“A government that cannot give citizens confidence that their lives matter has failed one of its most basic duties,” he said.
The October 2020 #EndSARS protests were driven by demands for an end to police brutality and the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The shooting at the Lekki Toll Gate became one of the defining events of the protests and remains a subject of public debate over accountability and the treatment of demonstrators.
Rising petrol prices worsen economic hardship
Beyond the Lekki shooting, Atiku linked the demand for accountability to the economic difficulties facing Nigerians, particularly young people and low-income households.
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He cited a petrol price of ₦1,405 per litre, saying rising fuel costs had placed additional pressure on household budgets and made it increasingly difficult for Nigerians to afford transportation, food, rent and education.
Atiku illustrated the impact of the rising cost of living by recounting an account shared by one of his aides about a young woman who reportedly resigned from her job because her salary could no longer cover the cost of commuting to work.
Quoting the woman, he said: “The pay no longer covers transport. Everything in Nigeria just dey increase in price. Feels like I’m working for Bolt guys.”
The account, as presented by Atiku, highlighted the financial challenges facing some employed Nigerians who struggle to meet basic expenses despite earning regular salaries.
He argued that the rising cost of transportation and other essential goods had weakened workers’ purchasing power, leaving some people with little financial benefit from remaining in employment.
Atiku outlines economic recovery proposals
The ADC presidential candidate said his Economic Recovery Plan was designed to address the pressure on households through measures aimed at reducing living costs, supporting workers and expanding domestic production.
According to Atiku, the proposals include support linked to fuel refined in Nigeria, with savings passed on to consumers, increased local production to create jobs, protection for minimum-wage earners and support for students.
He also proposed funding the measures by reducing government waste rather than introducing additional taxes.
“This is precisely the hardship my Economic Recovery Plan is designed to address, with one overriding objective: to Make Nigeria Affordable Again,” he said.
Atiku maintained that economic policies should deliver practical benefits to ordinary Nigerians, particularly those struggling to pay for transportation, education and other necessities.
He said greater domestic production could help create employment opportunities while targeted support for workers and students could ease some of the financial pressures facing households.
The former vice-president presented the proposals as part of his broader argument that young Nigerians needed both accountability for past events and economic opportunities that would allow them to build sustainable futures.
‘Nigerians are entitled to answers’
Atiku concluded by reiterating that the country should not move on from the Lekki shooting without addressing the questions raised by the incident.
He argued that the passage of six years had not removed the need for accountability and that the government should respond to citizens’ concerns about the incident and the country’s economic direction.
“Six years on, the APC has had ample time to answer for its record. Nigerians are entitled to ask why the answers and the opportunities are still missing,” he said.
His statement brings renewed attention to the legacy of the #EndSARS protests, the continuing calls for accountability over the Lekki shooting and the economic concerns affecting Nigerian households.
While Atiku has outlined his proposed solutions, the effectiveness of those measures would depend on their design, funding and implementation if adopted.
For many Nigerians, the issues raised in his statement remain closely connected: the demand for justice over the events of October 2020 and the need for economic conditions that allow citizens, especially young people, to work, study and live with greater financial security.
