#EndSARS: 2 Years After, Where Are We? -By Ajiboye Amos Olakunle

EndSARS was a nationwide movement that featured several mass protests against police brutality in Nigeria. The word ‘Endsars’ was initially meant to dispel Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a notorious unit of the Nigerian Police Force with an hazardous record of abuse on Nigerian citizens. It later turned out that the word ‘Endsars’ meant very much more than that.

EndSars is one of the most popular protests that held in Africa. It featured in almost all the major countries of the world. The protest started online, majorly twitter in 2017. A lot of young Nigerians lamented the excesses of SARS around the country. In 2020, the protest went nationwide after several killings and other crimes have been reported against SARS.

Series of events followed the Endsars protest, some are drastic while some are positive. However, one would have expected that the protest should serve as a baptism that should wash away all abnormalities in the country. One of the most tragic event that followed the EndSars protest was the massacre/mass murder of some of the peaceful protesters on the 20th October 2020. It was reported by the media, including CNN that the armed forces(Nigerian Army) had opened fire on the peaceful protesters on that fateful night. Till date, the people are yet to forget such catastrophe that struck Lagos. The governor of Lagos; Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu was interviewed shortly after the event, he was asked questions why such event took place, his response reported by Punch and other media was; “the event was perpetrated by forces beyond him”. Till date, none of the actors of the crime have been brought to justice.

Another event that took place after then was the ban of Twitter on the 5th of June 2021 in Nigeria. It was known and reported that Twitter was the initial venue of the protest before it was taken to the street. It was also reported that the CEO of Twitter had lent his voice in support of the protest and an official icon was released by Twitter to also support the event. After the federal government realized so much was and could be achieved via social media, they immediately placed a ban on Twitter. Presently, the government have shown supremacy to gag the people’s freedom of expression.

Intimidation and fear was instilled in the young Nigerians as the federal government engaged in several arrests and unnecessary show of force. The government didn’t just stop at that, they made sure some of the organizers and known participants of the protest were financially tamed by freezing their accounts. It was more of a cold war between the government and the young generation.

Well, the event later metamorphosed to be an eye opener to the youths, a lot of Nigerians lost hope in the government and sort to rule themselves with neutral persons in government. Several youths associations were formed at this period, although none of them made it to become political parties. But, as it stands, the youth have never been this united.

As stated, the youths were already vigilant, a lot of them sort new persons in government, this is part of the reasons why a lot of youths today are rooting for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party. They believe he’s new and different. Unfortunately, none of the major presidential candidate is a youth, different nor neutral from the initial powers.

Fortunately for some, the protest rewarded major participants with good names and fame. The likes of Aisha Yesufu, Rinu Oduala, Moe Odele, Oby Ezekwesili, Adewale Adebayo(Mr Macaroni) and several others won more fame after the event.

Ever since the even of EndSars, a lot of Nigerians have learnt to be responsible for each other. Police brutality is being dealt with cordially as different channels have been created to attend to such issues. At the moment, police brutality has gone way down compared to the situation before the EndSars.

Aside these, anytime the date 20 -10(20th of October) occurs, minds are always drawn back to a very horrible day, a day that the flag of Nigeria added a Red on it. This alone is a sense of responsibility amongst the youths of Nigeria. On this note, I say a prayer for all lives lost on this day; may they rest in peace.