In and Out of Protests: The Nigerian People’s Predicament

By Princess Anene-Maidoh

All eyes are on the Nigerian government and its forthcoming response to the second wave of #EndSARS protests. Will it be able to redeem itself or will it maintain its reprehensible crackdown on citizens exercising their civil rights?  

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was established as a specialized unit of the Nigerian police force in 1992. Its mandate was to address rampant armed robbery in the country, but it is now infamous for its operatives targeting and harassing citizens. They have been accused of extortion, torture, rape, and the deaths of many Nigerians.

 In October, Nigerian youth began protesting against SARS after more reports of its extrajudicial killings came to light. #EndSARS started online but crystallized into a movement with thousands of Nigerians flooding the streets. Groups like the feminist coalition led strategic campaigns against the government’s inaction to SARS’ impunity. Protesters demanded the dissolution of the unit and compensation for those affected by the police brutality.

 The government’s initial response to the protests was unsatisfactory. For instance, many were arrested during peaceful demonstrations. Additionally, the Inspector General of Police announced that SARS would be replaced with a new unit, SWAT. This signaled a reform in name only, which had happened several times in the past. Then, an unsatisfactory response became a lethal one. On October 20th, the Nigerian army opened fire on peaceful and unarmed protesters at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos. Amnesty International reports that at least 12 people were killed.

 Two days after the massacre, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari addressed the nation with a speech that many consider to be tone-deaf and insensitive. He failed to mention the shootings and made thinly veiled threats against protesters and the concerned international community. In response to outcry against the massacre, the Nigerian Army took to twitter and labelled the shooting allegations as fake news in spite of video evidence. The Nigerian people demanded to know who ordered the killings but were ignored by the government. It is still unclear who made this order as the army has now claimed via a judicial panel that Governor of Lagos State Sanwo Olu asked for military intervention. Sanwo Olu who claims he does not have the power to do so is yet to respond to this.  

 Citizens’ outcry against the government is at an all-time high. Nigerians have stormed warehouses containing COVID-19 palliatives their leaders have been hoarding. Criticism on social media has reignited conversation on social media regulation that lawmakers are trying to pass. The “Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulation Bill” and the “National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speech Bill” propose allowing law enforcement to shut down the internet. They also aim to impose a three-year jail sentence for citizens who make statements which ‘diminish public confidence’. These regulations would gag social media users and do not meet international human rights standards of free speech.

 Nigerians in the diaspora have joined the protests, and the UN and EU have condemned the government’s response to the #EndSARS movement. With looming pressure from the international community, Buhari’s administration would be wise to deescalate the situation by listening to the people’s demands and refraining from coercive measures. However, the chances of him taking this diplomatic approach are looking quite slim as police officers are already taking over protest sites. All Nigerians want is transparency and action towards fixing a broken system. The government’s subsequent decisions will inform whether Nigerian citizens should be gearing up for a third wave. 

Princess is a first-year MALD student concentrating in Humanitarian Studies and International Organizations. Before Fletcher, she worked on the social media team at the United Nations Headquarters in New York where she coordinated and executed the UN's media strategy across key social media channels. Princess is from Nigeria and holds a BA in Communications from the University of Tampa. She is fluent in French and enjoys writing fiction in her free time.

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