The Lagos State governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Olufunso Doherty, has narrated what happened before police reportedly fired tear gas at participants commemorating the sixth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests at the Lekki Toll Gate.
Doherty said those gathered at the venue on Tuesday were merely granting interviews when the incident occurred, insisting that nothing unusual was taking place.
‘Nothing was going on other than interviews,’ he said while recounting the incident.
The NDC candidate was among political figures, journalists and other Nigerians who assembled at the toll gate to commemorate the October 20, 2020, #EndSARS incident.
Doherty’s running mate, Tolani Animashaun, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, were also present.
P.M. NEWS had reported on Tuesday that the gathering was disrupted by tear gas, forcing participants to leave the venue.
Animashaun confirmed the incident to P.M. NEWS shortly afterwards, saying she and others had been exposed to tear gas.
A video obtained by P.M. NEWS showed police officers addressing the gathering, although it did not capture the actual deployment of tear gas.
Reflecting on the anniversary, Doherty described the events of October 20, 2020, as a painful chapter in Nigeria’s history, noting that some families lost loved ones while others suffered injuries.
The memorial marked six years since the nationwide #EndSARS demonstrations against police brutality, during which the Lekki Toll Gate became a major protest location.
The Lagos State Police Command had not provided an official explanation for Tuesday’s reported tear-gassing at the time of P.M. NEWS’ initial report.