Nigerians have criticised the president over remarks about victims of the October 2020 shooting, with some social media users alleging he was involved in the incident, claims not established by the resurfaced clip.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has faced renewed criticism on social media after an old video featuring his remarks about victims of the October 20, 2020, Lekki Toll Gate shooting resurfaced online. 

The clip has triggered angry reactions from Nigerians, some of whom have accused him of involvement in the incident, although the video alone does not establish that he ordered the shooting.

In the footage circulating online, Tinubu said those who suffered casualties during the shooting should also answer questions about their presence at the scene and how long they had been there. 

“Even though we want to help, we still must extract information that will help the government prepare in the future or understand how and when to react,” he said.

The controversy revives painful memories of the #EndSARS protests, a youth-led movement that spread across Nigeria in October 2020 over allegations of police brutality, particularly abuses linked to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). 

On October 20, protesters gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, where the shooting became one of the most consequential episodes of the demonstrations.

Reacting to the resurfaced clip, several social media users described Tinubu’s remarks as insensitive and questioned his position on the incident. One user, @Shadedylegend, called the comments “an open confession,” while @Eng_howard7 accused him of implying that Nigerians were involved in the killing of other Nigerians. 

These comments reflect the users’ interpretations of the footage, rather than independently verified evidence of an order to shoot.

Other commenters used the video to criticise Tinubu’s leadership and the government’s handling of police accountability. Some also expressed anger over what they viewed as a lack of justice for victims of the shooting. 

The reactions have renewed online debate about the events at the toll gate and the responsibility of public officials during the #EndSARS protests.

The resurfaced video has once again brought the Lekki Toll Gate shooting into public discussion, highlighting the continuing sensitivity surrounding the incident six years later.

 However, the claims circulating online that Tinubu ordered the shooting remain allegations and are not established by the quoted remarks in the clip.