End SARS Protest: Reflection And Aftermath -By Ifeanyi John Nwokeabia

Humans are special specie amongst everything created, because their ability to sit back, and reflect on issues after their actions is yet a feat unmatched by any living thing.

The entire world was thoroughly shaken last year. As a matter of fact, the experience went viral, upturning every aspect of human endeavour. It developed the unbearable fear of living today, and unsure what news awaited one tomorrow. In trying to breathe, everyone became selective to choice of air – no one wished to be the next obituary pronouncement.

The news of Corona Virus hit every aspect of human lives. According to news making rounds, it’s a disease that originated from China. But, its speed of movement became so swift that it found itself in Europe, where it massacred greater population of humans. Medical professional were seriously troubled, as they were forced to recline in their studies to seek viable solution to the stubborn Virus.

Nigeria as one of the countries in Africa was not left without a scratch by the pandemic. Around March 2020, every government and private institutions were closed down to help the authority to curtail sporadic spread of the virus. Citizens were advised to wear face mask, as a temporary measure to the undue spread of covid-19 as the class of virus is called.
It’s in the face of this pandemic that Nigerians experienced a nation wide protests targeted against police brutality. Though, it’s not on the general police but on a police unit called SARS (Special Anti-Robbery Squad). This police unit is charged with the responsibility of treating special cases involving robbery and other anti-social cases.

Someone may be asking,’what actually flared the people up’? Well, it’s just like the case of falcon and the falconer. The unit has been accused of having hands in the death of innocent citizens which the people saw as unlawful. They had cried, complained but no one seemed to listen to them individually. So they teamed up in these protests to make their voices louder. This constitutional writ became a mantra: ‘A criminal is not guilty unless proven at the court of law’, the people kept saying in uproar. It’s reported that some persons lost their siblings, parents and other loved ones to the hands of this unit, who do not take the accused to a court of law for hearing. Others equally said that those persons were killed by the unit, after they (SARS) had defrauded the families of so much money.

The major part of Nigeria where the major clamp down took place was in the southern region. In the midst of the echoes of the troubled voices came a voice thundering, ‘even if you had killed our loved ones, show us their dead bodies’. This according to report was triggered by rumours of the happenings in their camps. Some said that the bodies of humans are sold out to ritualists who use the bodies for sacrifice while some argued that the bodies were taken to medical schools to be used as cadavers.

There’s no smoke without fire. Many believe that the death of George Floyed, and the ensuing protest in United States of America, inspired Nigerians to take to the streets to vent their annoyance on a government that seemed to have turned deaf ears on their continuous complaint of the malaise of the SARS police unit. George Floyed was a ‘black’ American killed by a ‘white’ police. Before his death, camera captured how he was pinned to the ground by the police officer until he breathe his last. So, Nigerians comparatively saw it as a case of what SARS is doing in their society – police brutality.

‘When has the use of iPhone, laptop or one’s mode of dressing a yardstick for measuring who’s a cybercriminal’, many asked. Incessant arrests of innocent persons by SARS have become a thorn on the flesh of Nigerians. It became so alarming that one becomes afraid of putting on some clothes, or using some kind of phones. When on transit and you are found with a laptop, you would be tagged ‘a Yahoo boy/girl’ by the SARS group.

Nigerians out of anger and frustration bounced back on her government like a fiercely chased snake who has no other place to run to, turns and pursue its pursuer. They crowded many streets in Lagos, Edo, Enugu, Anambra, Abia and other states in Nigeria. They demanded that SARS should be completely scrapped, and never to exist anymore. And there are other demands made by the people which if attended to by the government would guarantee their vacation from the blocked roads. This lasted for weeks without any form of economic activities going on in the country.

It might be asked; was the protest fruitful? Of course, yes. The protesters who are members of the electorate showed the ruling class that they had gained political education that should enable them to demand for their rights. Some politicians were shaken to the bone marrow with fear for their fledgling life. This reminds me of ‘God’s Bit of Wood’ written by Ousmene Sembene. The people revolted against the ‘white colonialists’ who have been treating them badly, and ended up seeing significant changes in the affairs of their country. So, the protests succeed in disbanding SARS, and equally, police brutality has been reduced to a minimal level.

However, the economy during and after protests was seriously hampered. Every goods in the market changed its price overnight. I could remember going to buy a bag of rice, and I discovered that five thousand naira has been added to the price I bought it previously. This outrageous hike in prices of commodities dealt mercilessly with people. Hunger became an uninvited visitor who torments the people with its beasts-like appearance, craving a share in the helpless tummies of humans.

This economic meltdown provoked so many social vices. Armed robbery became rampant that in some places, citizens are not allowed to stay outside from 6pm to midnight. Every human lives in fear of what tomorrow brings. As some person said; ‘protect yourself since police have refused to protect us’. So, people were left on the mercy of God for protection or at their mercy to protect themselves. Mobile phones of people were snatched at gunpoint in different occasions.

It’s a popular belief that change can’t happen, unless efforts are put in making such change. Though, the aftermath may not have been as palatable as some may wish, but truly, the fangs of the masses were felt by the government. And as such, even if they had been sleeping, waking up to face their duties must be ringing alarm in them onwards, because they won’t want to see a rematch of such protests.

Nwokeabia, Ifeanyi John is a poet and teacher. He writes from Anambra State. He has Nigeria Certificate in Education and Bachelor of Arts in Education, both in English Language. His works are published in different online platforms.