Friday, 09 May 2025 12:48

I was nearly burnt alive in my office during #EndSARS protests - Desmond Elliot

Desmond Elliot, the actor-turned-politician, has revealed how he narrowly escaped an attack by unknown assailants during the 2020 EndSARS protests.

In an interview on Nollywood On Radio, the Lagos lawmaker recounted being trapped in his Surulere constituency office due to the curfew, only to face a life-threatening ambush.

Elliot explained that after being unable to return home to Lekki because of the curfew, he decided to spend the night in his office.

The 51-year-old politician said while relaxing and watching TV, chaos erupted when he heard his landlady’s daughter screaming and attempting to shield him by shouting, “he doesn’t stay here!”


Elliot disclosed that the situation escalated when a bottle filled with fuel and fire was hurled into his office, causing a fire. He added that “I have never been so scared in my life”.

“When there was curfew during the EndSARS period, a lot of bad boys came into Surulere and because of the curfew I could not go home,” he said.

“I was stucked in Lekki so I could not go home and has to go back to my office in Surulere.


“I was inside my office and never knew there was going to be anything so I was watching the TV in my office because I had intention the intention to spend the night at the office.

“Next thing, I heard my landlady’s daughter screaming, saying I don’t stay there.

“When I knew there was a problem was when a bottle with fuel and fire was thrown into my office and it caught fire.

“I had to call the chief of staff for help. I have never been so scared in my life, it was horrible.”


During the EndSARS protests, Elliot faced backlash for his words and actions, which ultimately led to him being labeled “Nigeria Twitter’s number one scapegoat”, as memes and banter from users targeted him for days.



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