EPISODE 6: #ENDSARS
DENIZ AKKAYA
#ENDSARS is more than just a hashtag to draw attention to police brutality.
SARS meaning The Special Anti-Robbery Squad serves as law enforcement of Nigeria for almost 30 years. The anti-SARS protests that first broke out in 2017 came to light again after a SARS officer killed an innocent teenager at the end of last month. Amnesty International announced that it has recorded 82 cases of SARS violations in the past three years, including assault, execution, sexual assault, and access to clean water resources. The protests grew rapidly after the video went viral on October 4, in which officers dragged two men out of a hotel and shot one of them to death. The protests came out of the capital Lagos and surrounded all the big and small cities of the country! Then, as Nigerian soldiers opened fire on a peaceful demonstration in Lagos, the movement went global with the help of world stars.
Young Nigerians quickly started using social media and #EndSARS soon went viral. The protests heard from all over the world with the influence of social media attracted the attention of the BLM movement, and the group soon organized solidarity protests for Nigerian protesters. Nigeria gained its independence in 1960 after fighting British exploitation for more than a century. Five years later, in the midst of America’s Civil Rights Movement, the voting rights law was passed and millions of black Americans were given a voice in democracy. The lives of both groups have been and are still affected for centuries by the deep-rooted racism and neocolonialism that arose from the Atlantic slave trade. This is exactly why they bravely rebel against this system that is victimizing them and fight for the same purpose at different ends of the world: freedom!
Realizing that the protests will not stop any time soon, the Nigerian government has promised to launch an investigation into police brutality and disperse SARS. However, protesters believe the government is lying to stop the protests. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari pledged to reform and urged citizens to be patient throughout the investigation period. In his speech over the past months, Buhari said, “Your voice has been heard loud and clear and we are responding.” The government pledged to work with human rights groups on a new governance model and to investigate the horrific events of the past, but the protesters are determined not to back down in any way.
Immediately after the sunset on October 20, members of the Nigerian Army opened fire on peaceful #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki crossing gate in Lagos State, Nigeria whilst the protesters were singing the national anthem. This led to sub-protests as well as a new hashtag: #LekkiMassacre.
According to data from Amnesty International, 10 people died and hundreds were injured. The massacre sparked international outrage. Celebrities like Beyoncé, Rihanna, Cardi B, and Drake tried to draw attention to this human rights crisis in Nigeria by posting #EndSARS after the massacre. The government banned demonstrations in Lagos to suppress the movement, and governors across the country called for censorship on social media, which played a major role in organizing and publicizing protests.
Like the Black Lives Matter movement in the US, #EndSARS has unexpectedly become stronger with videos of viral police brutality that document a decades-old pattern of violence. As with every protest with freedom and love at its centre around the world, Gen Z’s interest and support for the protest brought the movement to an international dimension, putting pressure on the Nigerian government. Just as the #EndSARS protests began to calm down, claims by state governments were spreading that Nigeria’s wealthiest individuals were hiding food they donated to distribute to the poor due to the pandemic. Many Nigerians believe that governors keep these donations to distribute as bribes to the public whenever they need political support. After this incident, tensions escalated in Nigeria and the #EndSARS police brutality protests turned into a general rebellion against the government. That’s why experts recommend that all activists in Nigeria come together to put aside their different wishes and focus on the real problem. After all, there is a political struggle to be won! Fortunately, the age of Aquarius will be rushing to the aid of the wronged peoples and secretly mentoring them in their struggle for freedom! Stay tuned for Episode 7.
