Nigerians have taken to Twitter to remember #EndSARS protesters slain and incarcerated during the October 2020 nationwide protests.

As the nation marks 61 years of independence, some critics and activists on the microblogging platform said their rights and freedoms have been violated by the government.

Aisha Yesufu, a human rights activist, reminded Nigerians of the extrajudicial killing of protesters at the Lekki tollgate during the Lagos leg of last year’s #EndSARS protests.

“We will not forget the massacre of 20-10-2020 by the Nigerian government led by Major General Muhammadu Buhari and Professor Yemi Osinbajo #EndSars #LekkiMassacre,” she tweeted.

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We will not forget the massacre of 20-10-2020 by the Nigerian government led by Major General Muhammadu Buhari and Professor Yemi Osinbajo #EndSars #LekkiMassacre pic.twitter.com/oQCgCWie8T

— Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) September 30, 2021

Enough is Enough, a non-governmental organization, corroborated Yesufu’s tweet saying, “The memories are still fresh in our heads. It was a massacre. Today, we remember & honour fellow Nigerians who were killed for daring to speak against police brutality & demand for a better country #EndSARS.”

The memories are still fresh in our heads. It was a massacre 💔
Today, we remember & honour fellow Nigerians who were killed for daring to speak against police brutality & demand for a better country 💔#EndSARS pic.twitter.com/MgqYgzAmxe

— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) October 1, 2021

Chidi Odinkalu, a lawyer and social critic, tweeted pictures of 38 Kaduna residents murdered and buried in a mass grave on Nigeria’s independence day.

“#SightsAndSounds of #NigeriaAt61 events. In this #MassGrave, there are 38 #DeadBodies. @NigeriaGov did not say 1 word of acknowledgment of their lives…. Or of their #Massacre,” his tweet read.

#SightsAndSounds of #NigeriaAt61 events. In this #MassGrave, there are 38 #DeadBodies. @NigeriaGov did not say 1 word of acknowledgement of their lives…. Or of their #Massacre. pic.twitter.com/zYOwHJfjud

— Chidi Odinkalu, CGoF (@ChidiOdinkalu) October 1, 2021

Other Twitter users also shared pictures, names and videos of youth killed during the #EndSARS protests.

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The labour of our heroes past shall not be in vain #EndSARS pic.twitter.com/JTLL7kWxIH

— Ariella 👩🏽‍💻 (@lifeofariella) October 1, 2021

Your life and dream was cut short in the struggle of end SARS. Those involved will never know peace and prosperity. Rest on Jimoh. #EndSARS pic.twitter.com/IWYqCkIvaJ

— Martins_wizz (@Matexar) October 1, 2021

We would rather celebrate these young people whose destiny were truncated by their own country instead of celebrating the country that pegs no value for the life of any of her citizens. #EndSARS is more relevant than #IndependenceDay2021 pic.twitter.com/lsPwLDQ865

— Chlorpheniramine (@VictorIsrael_) October 1, 2021

We are dedicating October to the lives we lost during the End Sars protest. They are hero’s and will always be remembered✊🏽. #EndSARS

— The King’s Daughter  💎 (@iam_chyderah) October 1, 2021

The #EndSARS protests began on October 7 and ended on the 20th of the same month following the shooting of protesters at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos by the Nigerian Army.