Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has renewed calls for accountability over the October 2020 Lekki shooting, questioning who ordered the use of force against protesters and accusing the All Progressives Congress (APC) of failing to provide satisfactory answers six years after the incident.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the remarks in a post on his X account on Tuesday, where he criticised the government’s handling of the incident and called for justice for victims and their families.
He argued that Nigerians, particularly young people, were still waiting for clarity about the events surrounding the shooting, adding that the absence of satisfactory answers had continued to undermine public trust in government.
Atiku also criticised President Bola Tinubu’s response to the incident in October 2020, when the president questioned aspects of the protesters’ presence and conduct despite reports of casualties.
According to the former vice-president, the response at the time appeared to focus more on questioning the victims than on demanding accountability from those responsible for the violence.
He said the failure to adequately address the incident had left many Nigerians disappointed, with affected families still seeking justice and young people frustrated by what they consider a lack of accountability.
Atiku maintained that the anger surrounding the EndSARS protests should not be dismissed as a social media trend, arguing that it reflected deeper concerns about justice, governance and the treatment of young Nigerians.
He further accused the APC, which has governed Nigeria since 2015, of failing to adequately address the unresolved questions surrounding the Lekki shooting and the concerns raised by protesters.
The ADC presidential candidate said a government’s responsibility extended beyond acknowledging the victims of violence to ensuring that citizens had confidence in the protection of their lives and rights.
Atiku Links Economic Hardship to Unfulfilled Promises
Beyond the issue of accountability, Atiku expressed concern over the rising cost of living, saying economic hardship had made it increasingly difficult for Nigerian households to afford basic necessities, including food, rent, education and transportation.
He cited the rising price of petrol, which he put at N1,405 per litre, as an example of the pressures facing workers and families across the country.
To illustrate the impact of the economic situation, Atiku recounted 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.
He said the experience reflected the difficulties faced by some employed Nigerians whose earnings were no longer sufficient to meet the rising cost of transportation and other essential expenses.
Atiku argued that the situation highlighted the need for economic policies that would improve living standards, protect workers’ incomes and make employment financially worthwhile.
Atiku Presents Economic Recovery Plan
The former vice-president said his Economic Recovery Plan was designed to address the country’s economic challenges and make essential goods and services more affordable for Nigerians.
He outlined proposed measures that include passing savings from domestically refined fuel on to consumers, expanding local production to create jobs, protecting minimum-wage earners, providing support for students and reducing government waste.
According to Atiku, these measures would help ease the financial burden on households while creating opportunities for businesses and workers. He also argued that reducing wasteful government expenditure could help fund relief measures without placing additional tax burdens on citizens.
He said his plan was built around making Nigeria more affordable by addressing the factors driving up living costs and ensuring that economic policies delivered tangible benefits to ordinary people.
Atiku maintained that improving the economy was particularly important for young Nigerians, many of whom continue to face challenges involving employment, transportation costs and access to education.
Atiku Renews Call for Justice and Accountability
Atiku concluded that the unresolved questions surrounding the Lekki shooting and the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians were issues that the government could no longer afford to ignore.
He argued that young Nigerians deserved both accountability for the violence associated with the EndSARS protests and economic opportunities that would allow them to build secure futures.
The former vice-president said the APC had had sufficient time in government to address concerns about its record, insisting that Nigerians were entitled to demand answers about the Lekki shooting and question why economic opportunities remained limited.
The EndSARS protests began in October 2020 as a nationwide movement against police brutality, particularly the activities of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The protests drew widespread participation from young Nigerians demanding police reform, accountability and better governance. The events at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos on October 20, 2020, became one of the most contentious episodes of the demonstrations, prompting continuing calls for transparency and justice.
Six years later, the incident remains a significant issue in public discussions about human rights, government accountability and the relationship between Nigerian authorities and young citizens.