Atiku Seeks Answers on Lekki Shooting, Economic Hardship

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has renewed calls for accountability over the October 2020 Lekki shooting, questioning why Nigerians are yet to receive clear answers about who authorised the use of force against #EndSARS protesters.

Atiku made the remarks on Tuesday, October 20, marking the sixth anniversary of the incident at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos, where security personnel were accused of opening fire on protesters demanding an end to police brutality.

In a statement shared on his X account, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate asked: “Six years after the Lekki shooting, Nigeria is still waiting for a clear answer to one devastating question: Who gave the order?”

He criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government for what he described as its failure to address the lingering questions surrounding the incident, arguing that the absence of satisfactory answers had deepened public distrust, particularly among young Nigerians.

Atiku also criticised President Bola Tinubu’s response to the incident in 2020, saying the focus appeared to be on questioning the protesters rather than demanding accountability for the violence.

He maintained that protecting citizens’ lives and upholding their rights were fundamental responsibilities of government.

Beyond the Lekki shooting, Atiku linked the demand for accountability to Nigeria’s current economic challenges, citing rising petrol prices, declining purchasing power and limited employment opportunities.

He said petrol prices had reached ₦1,405 per litre, placing additional pressure on households struggling to afford transportation, food, education and housing.

To illustrate the impact on workers, Atiku recounted the experience of a young woman who reportedly resigned from her job because her salary could no longer cover transportation costs.

“The pay no longer covers transport. Everything in Nigeria just dey increase in price. Feels like I’m working for Bolt guys,” he quoted the woman as saying.

Atiku said the situation reflected the difficulties facing workers whose earnings were increasingly inadequate to meet basic expenses.

He said his proposed Economic Recovery Plan would address the hardship through measures including support linked to domestically refined fuel, increased local production, protection for minimum-wage earners, student assistance and reductions in government waste.

The former vice-president insisted that young Nigerians deserved both answers about the Lekki shooting and an economy in which employment could provide a reasonable standard of living.

He urged the government to address the unresolved questions surrounding the incident and take practical steps to ease economic pressure on citizens.

The #EndSARS protests began in 2020 as a nationwide movement against police brutality and misconduct. The Lekki shooting remains a contentious episode in the country’s recent history, with continuing demands for accountability and justice.