Tinubu Faces Backlash as Old Video on Lekki Toll Gate Shooting Resurfaces

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has faced criticism on social media following the resurfacing of an old video in which he spoke about victims of the October 20, 2020, Lekki Toll Gate shooting.

The video has triggered renewed debate over the incident, with some Nigerians accusing Tinubu of ordering the shooting. However, the footage and the reactions circulating online do not, on their own, establish that he gave such an order.

In the video, Tinubu appeared to suggest that questions should also be asked of those who suffered casualties during the shooting, including how they came to be at the protest venue and how long they had remained there.

“Those who suffered the casualties during the gunshot need to answer some questions too. How were they there, and how long were they there? What kind of characters are they?” he said.

He added that information from the incident could help the government prepare for future situations and understand when and how to respond.

The resurfaced footage has drawn strong reactions from social media users, many of whom criticised the remarks and questioned the President’s position on the incident.

One X user, @Shadedylegend, described the video as an “open confession”, claiming that Tinubu had given the order. The post, however, did not provide evidence to substantiate the allegation.

Another user, @ChatOlumide, criticised Tinubu’s leadership, while @browntechn questioned Nigerians who voted for him.

Other users expressed anger over the government’s handling of the incident and broader concerns about police accountability and the treatment of protesters.

One commenter, @Eng_howard7, accused Tinubu of blaming Nigerians for the deaths, while @tornado_guns linked the incident to what the user described as a lack of accountability for police violence.

The reactions reflect the continued sensitivity surrounding the Lekki Toll Gate shooting, which remains a defining episode in Nigeria’s recent history of protests and demands for police reform.

The #EndSARS movement began in October 2020 as a youth-led campaign against alleged police brutality, particularly abuses associated with the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit of the Nigeria Police Force.

The protests expanded nationwide, with demonstrators demanding police reform, accountability and improved governance.

On October 20, 2020, protesters gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, where security personnel opened fire during the demonstration. The incident generated widespread outrage and conflicting accounts of what happened, the casualties recorded and the responsibility of those involved.

The resurfacing of Tinubu’s remarks has renewed online discussion about the incident and the need for accountability.

While critics have interpreted the video as evidence of his alleged involvement, the statement quoted in the footage does not independently establish that Tinubu ordered the shooting.

The renewed debate comes as Nigerians continue to reflect on the #EndSARS protests and their demands for justice, police accountability and respect for citizens’ rights.