In a landmark decision, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice has found the Nigerian federal government guilty of human rights abuses in its handling of the #EndSARS protests in October 2020.

The court’s ruling highlighted the excessive use of force by Nigerian security forces at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, which breached multiple international human rights standards.

The court has ordered the Nigerian government to compensate each victim named in the suit with N2 million. The case was brought forward by applicants including DJ Switch, Perpetual Kamsi, and Dabiraoluwa Adeyinka, who detailed the violent crackdown on peaceful protesters.

The judgment mandates the government to investigate and prosecute those responsible and report back within six months on measures taken to implement this ruling.