Eyewitness accounts and reports from the scene indicate that police officers used tear gas and live ammunition on unarmed citizens who had gathered to peacefully express their concerns. Many protesters are currently hospitalised with breathing difficulties caused by heavy exposure to tear gas. Others are receiving treatment for gunshot wounds, with some victims undergoing surgery. It is deeply disturbing that people exercising their constitutional right to peaceful protest were met with such extreme force.
We are particularly troubled by reports that individuals were shot in the legs, including a woman, and that several peaceful protesters were arrested. In the chaos that followed the shooting and tear gas, a child was reportedly separated from their mother and remains missing. This is a heartbreaking situation that reflects the level of fear and disorder created by the violent crackdown.
As health professionals, we must highlight the serious medical consequences of these actions. Tear gas exposure can lead to severe asthma attacks, respiratory distress, chest infections, eye injuries, and long-term lung damage, especially in children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with existing health conditions. Gunshot injuries can result in permanent disability, chronic pain, psychological trauma, and loss of livelihood. Beyond physical harm, such violent incidents cause widespread anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress in affected communities.
It is also unfortunate that instead of accepting responsibility and allowing a transparent investigation, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly reportedly released a statement many observers have described as misleading and dismissive of victims’ experiences. Public communication should focus on truth, accountability, and the protection of lives, not damage control.
This incident does not stand alone. Many Nigerians continue to reference a troubling pattern of human rights concerns in Lagos State over the years. These include the events of 2020 during the ENDSARS protests, particularly the widely reported violence at the Lekki Toll Gate which led to a massacre; the reported 2025 Oworonshoki incident in which residents alleged deadly force was used during a community crisis which also led to loss of lives; and now the 2026 shooting of protesters at the Lagos State House of Assembly. These events, as described by victims and civil society groups, have raised serious questions about the use of force, accountability, and the protection of citizens’ rights. They underscore the urgent need for independent investigations and justice for victims.
Beyond the immediate injuries, repeated violence, forced displacement, and disregard for citizens’ welfare have long-term public health effects. Poverty, homelessness, and inequality are directly linked to malnutrition, infectious diseases, untreated chronic illnesses, and worsening mental health. When people live in fear and instability, life expectancy drops and the overall health of the population declines. As Nurses, we see these consequences daily in our hospitals and communities.
History will remember how leaders respond in moments like this. The protection of human life must come before the protection of political image.
Our Demands:
- Immediate and unconditional release of all arrested peaceful protesters.
- An end to the reported sham trial of Comrade Soweto and others.
- An urgent, independent, and transparent investigation into the use of live ammunition and excessive force on protesters.
- Immediate medical care, psychological support, and compensation for all injured victims.
- Swift action to locate the missing child and reunite them safely with their family.
- Clear and enforceable directives to security agencies to respect citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and expression.
Nurses are advocates for life, dignity, and humanity. We cannot remain silent while citizens are injured, traumatised, or silenced for speaking out.
The Elegant Nurses Forum stands in solidarity with the victims and calls on authorities to choose justice, compassion, and accountability over repression.
Signed:
Nurse Thomas Abiodun Olamide
For:
Elegant Nurses Forum