Mr Macaroni commemorates EndSARS anniversary, says Nigerian youths must never forget Lekki Tollgate shootings. Calls out youth for embracing oppressors.
Mr Macaroni Marks EndSARS Anniversary, Says Lekki Tollgate Victims Must Not Be ForgottenPopular Nigerian skitmaker and activist, Debo Adebayo, widely known as Mr Macaroni, has reignited public discourse on the tragic events of October 20, 2020, as he marked the 5th anniversary of the EndSARS protest.
Taking to his social media platforms on Monday, Mr Macaroni described the Lekki Tollgate shooting as a national tragedy that must never be forgotten or forgiven, no matter the political shift in public sentiment.
“Nigerian youths lost their lives, jobs, families and dreams at the hands of the most corrupt and evil people we call leaders!!! Even though my people are now in love with their oppressors, this day 20/10/2020 is never to be forgotten nor forgiven!” he wrote.
The EndSARS protest, which started as a peaceful movement against police brutality and extrajudicial killings by the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS)**, ended in bloodshed on the night of October 20, 2020, when security forces allegedly opened fire on unarmed demonstrators at Lekki Tollgate.
The incident sparked global outrage, with widespread condemnation from local and international rights groups. Despite conflicting reports and denials by authorities, numerous eyewitnesses and video evidence pointed to the use of live ammunition against peaceful protesters.
In his emotionally charged statement, Mr Macaroni criticised Nigerian youths who have since aligned themselves with politicians and leaders linked to the events of October 2020, describing such actions as betrayal to those who died or were brutalised during the protests.
“My people are now in love with their oppressors,” he lamented, referencing the perceived amnesia or indifference of many Nigerians toward the EndSARS legacy.
Mr Macaroni, who was himself arrested and reportedly assaulted during the protests, emphasized that the struggle for justice, accountability, and reform is ongoing.
“The day will come when those who gave the orders and those who pulled the triggers will answer. History will always remember,” he wrote in a follow-up post.
The EndSARS protest was one of the largest youth-led movements in Nigeria’s recent history. On October 20, 2020, hundreds of demonstrators gathered at Lekki Tollgate, Lagos, holding national flags and singing the national anthem when the alleged military crackdown occurred.
While official investigations have not led to prosecutions, panels of inquiry in various states, including Lagos, concluded that excessive force was used and that lives were lost—though the federal government has continued to deny a massacre occurred.
Mr Macaroni’s posts sparked renewed conversation online, with many Nigerians commemorating the day by sharing stories, tributes, and demanding justice for the victims.
Others echoed his sentiments, accusing the government of failing to implement meaningful reforms promised in the wake of the protests.
