There’s a long history of oppression everywhere on the African continent, along with the worst lot of leaders & governments. For decades, Africa has been plagued with corrupt officials who lack empathy, initiative and have a complete disregard for those they are to serve.
The people have been trampled on for so long, they can only take so much anymore. The youth are leading revolutions in Sudan, Uganda, South Africa, Cameroon and all over the continent. They’re advocating for LGBTQ rights, demanding dictators are sworn out, as well as fair treatment, equal rights, and more. The movement which has been ongoing for years, is now receiving more volume than ever before. Through the lens of the internet, young Nigerians at home and in the diaspora are building forces to ensure that their voices are heard.
This generation is doing more than just talk about it; they’re not afraid to ignite movements and demand for better governance. The change may seem small and slow, but one thing is certain–– young Africans won’t be settling for less and with their bustling numbers, they are keen on sparking a revolution across the continent.
Through the power of the internet, we’ve been able to put our voices together to challenge authorities using hashtags that go viral, and sometimes call our attention to the issues being faced by many, regardless of gender, ethnicity or political zones. It’s no wonder why African governments are increasingly making efforts to ban or tax it.
In the case of the ongoing #ENDSARS movement in Nigeria. The hashtag was created by young voices to fight against police brutality, in particular, the Special Anti Robbery Squad, (SARS) in particular, and their countless inhumane acts against young people all over Nigeria.
What The Fuck Is SARS?
SARS is a branch of the Nigeria Police Force under the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID). The squad deals with crimes associated with armed robbery, car snatching, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and crimes associated with firearms.
This is what they are at least meant to represent but instead, they’ve focused on targeting young civilians who they ‘ suspect are criminals based off specific aspects of their appearance, with a focus on young people commuting.
These encounters typically end up with an illegal search––most times nothing incriminating is found––then being detained and extorted for your freedom or you’re threatened to be jailed indefinitely for no reason. On really terrible occasions, they’re unjustly killed and the officer goes unprosecuted.
The Birth Of #EndSars and End Of SARS
The uproar against the SARS reached a peak earlier this year with countless Nigerians sharing stories of how members of SARS engaged in unlawful detention and extortion on different social media platforms.
Nigerians called for the government to scrap and end the deployment of the Nigeria Police Force Special Anti-Robbery Squad, questioning the existence of SARS when they’re not actually doing their job. The campaign began on social media using the hashtag #ENDSARS.
The campaigners moved from social media to organized protests in Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, Benin, Delta, Ilorin, and Owerri, promising to continue if the government refused to disband the force.
On Sunday, 4 October, after the story of the death of another young man killed in Delta state by SARS, the Inspector-General of Police M.A Adamu bin announced that they banned FSARS and other tactical squads including the Special Tactical Squad, Intelligence Response Team, Anti-Cultism Squad, to stop patrolling, stop and search, checkpoints, mounting of roadblocks, traffic checks, and other low-risk duties.
Protesting For The Future & Why This Is Important
When we protest, the people believe they are not on their own in terms of the grievances they currently face in a democratic state. Protesting starts a debate which is a big step in lasting change. With persistence, protests sometimes eventually triumph in ways that were not planned by opening up conversations around other related issues.
Protests are a direct communication of ‘We cannot continue to put up with the way certain things are’. Protests work because even after the issue may have been resolved, there will be more members of society advocating for positive change. It is very important for societies to know that unlawful actions of authorities will be opposed.
And simply, as protesters we cannot sit by while injustice continues to prevail. We shouldn’t be contemplating whether protesting works or not, we should feel it as a moral duty to our society to take a stand for its preservation.
Nigerians continue to protest and share their rage on social media.
How You Can Help Without Being On The Frontline
Interact with #EndSARS Posts on social media.
Not all of us will be able to be on the frontlines protesting with others, and that’s understandable. It doesn’t mean you’re less than others but you can do your part on social media. Engage with the posts by people out there, share with people, interact with it, share the word about what’s happening to bring even more awareness to the current situation.
Donate Money.
There’s a lot of people putting together food, shelter, and security for those who are protesting. They still need more donations to feed and help protesters who’ve been injured in the process across the country. No matter how little, share something to keep them strong for the fight.
Reach Out To The Government.
Make the officials actually do their work by passing the ban on SARS as quickly as possible! You can email the local government chairmen and senators and demand for change!
Come out and protest!
It’s okay to join the trend online or talk about it with friends and neighbours. However, if you can, get a placard and speak your truth, grab a water bottle and join the closest #ENDSARS protests happening around you. Don’t forget, there’s strength in numbers.
Tips For Protesters.
- Wear a facemask! A bandana might be useful too
- Have some refreshments i.e snacks, energy drinks, water.
- Have some cash
- Carry a backpack and a power bank
- Have some ID
- If teargassed, wash your face with water. Do not wipe your face with your shirt.
The protest is going on currently as of the release of this article, so keep the hashtag alive and stay safe.
