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Summary
Five years after the End SARS protest, Nigerian youths are marking the anniversary of the 2020 demonstrations against police brutality, using social media to honour those who lost their lives and renew calls for justice.
Nigerians across social media are marking the fifth anniversary of the End SARS protest today, October 20, 2025, in remembrance of those who were killed and harmed during the nationwide demonstrations against police brutality in October 2020.
The End SARS movement began as a campaign to end the abuses by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), became one of the largest youth-led protests in Nigeria’s history. On Oct 20, 2020, peaceful protesters were shot at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos.
Reflecting on the anniversary, X user @LadyVictoria21 wrote that “#EndSARS was not just a protest. It was pain turned into purpose. It was a cry for justice from the youth who had seen too much harassment, extortion, brutality, and silence.”
She added that the movement united Nigerians across backgrounds who shared one dream, “a country where being young isn’t a crime.”
Similarly, @__DeeeCR7 expressed grief and admiration for those who died, saying, “To every soul we lost to police brutality and the End SARS protest, your courage still echoes. You deserved better, but Nigeria has only grown darker under this same wicked system.”
@IsabellaGeorgeW described the day as unforgettable, noting that “#EndSARS wasn’t just a protest, it was a movement that brought an entire generation together. The pain, the courage, the unity, it all hits deep.”
Adding her voice, @eykimy emphasised the continued call for accountability, writing that “Five years on, #EndSARS remains a defining moment in Nigeria’s fight for justice. It wasn’t just about ending a rogue police unit, but confronting corruption and abuse.”
Another user, @The_amakaaa, called it the most brutally evil day she had lived through in Nigeria. She prayed that all the victims of the End SARS protest continue to rest and may their killers meet their day of reckoning.
