- An asthmatic woman was seen struggling to breathe as police fired tear gas at the #EndSARS memorial at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos.
- Newsflash reported that the incident happened as Nigerians gathered to commemorate six years since the October 2020 protests against police brutality.
- The video of the woman has sparked reactions on social media, with some Nigerians discussing the risks of tear gas exposure for people with asthma.
A video of an asthmatic woman has surfaced online as she was seen struggling to breathe as police officers fired tear gas at Nigerians gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos for the sixth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests.
The incident, captured in a trending video on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, has sparked reactions on social media, with Nigerians expressing concern over the woman’s condition and criticising the disruption of the memorial gathering
The gathering was organised to honour victims of the October 2020 protests against police brutality. Participants had assembled at the toll gate for a memorial, including a planned wreath-laying ceremony, before police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Asthmatic woman struggles to breathe at Lekki Toll Gate during #EndSARS memorial
The video shows a woman struggling to breathe amid the tear gas released at the Lekki Toll Gate, drawing attention to the possible danger faced by people with such condition in public places.
Tear gas can irritate the airways and trigger breathing difficulties. People with asthma may be particularly vulnerable to its effects.
The incident has raised concerns among social media users about the safety of people attending the memorial and the impact of using tear gas to disperse a gathering.
Watch the video here:
Asthmatic woman seen struggling to breathe as police fire tear gas at crowd gathered at Lekki Toll Gate for #EndSARS memorial https://t.co/ncTdVppUSL
— YabaLeftOnline (@yabaleftonline) October 20, 2026
Nigerians react as police fire tear gas at #EndSARS memorial
The video has triggered criticism and concern on social media, with several users commenting on the woman’s condition and the police response.
A user, @Khay_LFC, wrote that people with asthma should not be in such environments, while @OGM247 questioned the police action, referring to officers’ reported protests over unpaid pensions and arrears.
Another user, @smartmive, commented about tear gas protection and water, while @AgronomistSeyi expressed the view that powerful institutions would eventually collapse regardless of how much power they wielded.
@BlueHiveso3sl questioned the government’s approach, while @Cyber_Obi wrote that six years after the #EndSARS protests, the same actions were still being repeated.
Reacting to the incident, @david_gbekee said it appeared Nigerians were being ruled under a military-style system, while @Edvinng questioned whether people could still exercise their rights to peaceful assembly.
The incident has renewed online debate about police conduct, the right to peaceful assembly and the treatment of Nigerians commemorating the victims of the #EndSARS protests.
Meanwhile, Newsflash had earlier reported that police officers have fired tear gas at Nigerians gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests, disrupting a memorial organised to honour victims of the 2020 demonstrations.
The incident happened on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, as residents, activists, journalists and political figures gathered at the toll gate to remember those who lost their lives during the protests against police brutality.
Among those present were Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Lagos, and Funso Doherty of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), according to reports by Nigerian media outlets.
Lekki Toll Gate #EndSARS memorial disrupted
The memorial was organised by the Enough is Enough movement as part of activities marking six years since the nationwide #EndSARS protests.
Participants had gathered to pay tribute to the victims, with a wreath-laying ceremony planned at the toll gate, a location that became a major symbol of the 2020 demonstrations.
However, the ceremony was disrupted when police officers deployed tear gas to disperse the gathering before participants could complete the planned tribute.
Newsflash reported that those those present scrambled for safety as the tear gas spread across the area.
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, Funso Doherty attend lekki toll gate memorial
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and Funso Doherty were among the political figures who joined other Nigerians at the Lekki Tol Gate #EndSARS memorial.
Their presence came as Nigerians marked six years since the demonstrations that called for an end to police brutality, extortion and alleged abuses by the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
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