End SARS
End SARS, widely written as #EndSARS, was a decentralised social movement and series of mass protests against police brutality in Nigeria that mainly occurred in 2020. The movement's slogan called for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a notorious unit of the Nigerian Police known for its long record of abuse against Nigerian citizens.[2][3] The protests originated from a Twitter campaign in 2017, using the hashtag #EndSARS to demand the unit's disbandment by the Nigerian government.[4][5][6] The movement experienced a resurgence in October 2020 following further revelations of the unit's abuses, leading to mass demonstrations across major cities in Nigeria, and widespread outrage on social media platforms. The hashtag #EndSARS accumulated over 28 million tweets on Twitter alone.[7] Solidarity protests and demonstrations by Nigerians in the diaspora and sympathizers occurred in many major cities around the world. Notably, the movement was predominantly led by young Nigerians[8][9] and expanded to include demands for good governance and accountability, amidst unprecedented hardship in the country.
Not to be confused with protests about COVID-19, which is also related to a use of the acronym SARS.End SARS
2020
Killings, assaults, and harassment by SARS officials in Nigeria; lack of freedom of expression
Concluded
- SARS unit dissolved on 11 October 2020
- Protesting on 20 October 2020 led to several deaths.
Within a few days of protests, on 11 October 2020, the Nigerian Police Force announced the dissolution of the unit with immediate effect. The move was widely perceived as a triumph for the demonstrators.[10] However, it was noted in many quarters that similar announcements had been made in recent years to placate the public without the unit actually being disbanded, and that the government had merely planned to reassign and review SARS officers to medical centres rather than disband the unit entirely.[11] Protests continued accordingly, and the Nigerian government maintained a pattern of violent repression, including the killing of demonstrators.[12] International demonstrations in solidarity with those in the country occurred, and the movement also grew increasingly critical of Muhammadu Buhari's government response to the protests.[13]
SARS officers were alleged to profile young Nigerians, mostly males, based on fashion choices, tattoos and hairstyles. They were also known to set up illegal road blocks, conduct unwarranted checks and searches, make arrests and detain without warrant or trial, rape women, and extort young male Nigerians for driving exotic vehicles and using laptops and iPhones.[14] Nigerians shared stories and video evidence of how SARS officers engaged in kidnapping, murder, theft, rape, torture, unlawful arrests, humiliation, unlawful detention, extrajudicial killings and extortion of Nigerian citizens. A large number of the victims of the abuses of SARS were young male Nigerians.[15][16]
Background[edit]
The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was a unit of the Nigeria Police Force under the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID). It was founded in late 1992 as one of the 14 units in the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, which was established to detain, investigate, and prosecute people involved in crimes like armed robbery, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.[17] The squad was created as a masked police unit to perform undercover operations against violent crimes like armed robbery, car snatching, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and the bearing and use of illegal firearms.[18]
SARS had been accused of several human rights violations, illegal "stop and searches", illegal arrests and detentions, extrajudicial killings, sexual harassment of women and brutalising of young male Nigerians. The human rights abuses were documented in trending videos on social media.[19]
In 2017, Nigerian activists, youth and celebrities across the nation took to the streets in a peaceful protest to spread awareness of SARS brutality and extortions and to demand its disbanding. The protests also moved to social media using the hashtag #EndSARS.[20][21][22]
A 2016 report[23] by Amnesty International, indicted SARS maintaining that the squad was responsible for human rights abuses, cruelty, degrading treatment of Nigerians in their custody, and other widespread torture. Some of the human rights abuses by SARS include the shooting of their detainees in the leg, mock executions and threats of execution, hanging and physical assault.[24] A 2020 publication by the organisation documented 82 cases of abuses and extra judicial killings by SARS between January 2017 and May 2020.[25]
Initial protests and reactions[edit]
Amnesty International accused the SARS officials of regularly detaining young male Nigerians illegally and extorting money from their relatives.[4] In 2018, Nigerian rapper Michael Ugochukwu Stephens professionally known Ruggedman joined the campaign to end police brutality by releasing a single titled, Is Police Your Friend?[26] In 2017, a petition signed by 10,195 people was submitted to Nigeria's National Assembly calling for a total disbandment of SARS.[27] A few Senators backed the call for total disbandment of the unit.[28] Consideration was given to reforming the force, rather than full disbandment due to the number of cases falling.[29][30]
The campaigners moved from social media using the #EndSARS hashtag to an organized, peaceful protests in Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, Osun, Benin, Ughelli, Warri, Ilorin, Ogbomosho, Owerri, Jos, Kaduna, Calabar[31][21] and other Nigerian cities and states, threatening to continue if the government refused to disband the force.[32][33][34]
Not only were there campaigners in Nigeria utilising the hashtag and having protests but they were also done in London and some parts of America recognizing this situation as a global event.
In response to the campaign, Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer Jimoh Moshood accused the campaigners of being "criminals".[35] Despite this, the then Inspector General of Nigeria Police Force Ibrahim K. Idris ordered the reform and reorganisation of SARS.[36]
February 2021 protest against the reopening of Lekki toll gate[edit]
After the Nigerian government announced that activities at the Lekki toll gate would restart, Nigerians not satisfied with the decision to restart activities at a symbolic site where reportedly unarmed citizens died during the End SARS protest called for a fresh protest to start at 7am on 13 February 2021.[121] On 13 February 2021 security agencies were at the site, reportedly armed, and awaiting the protesters. It was reported that a Nigerian internet comedian named Mr Macaroni and others who came to observe the peaceful protest were arrested.[122]
Nigerian protests by state[edit]
Delta State[edit]
On Saturday, 10 October 2020, the #EndSARS protest started from the Ekiugbo section of Ughelli, Delta State, went through the Ughelli Market, Ughelli Area Command and Isoko Road. The protests led to traffic gridlocks at the Ughelli–Patani section of the East–West Road. However, at Otovwodo Junction, fracas ensued as the peaceful protest assumed took another turn when hoodlums, motorcycle rider and others joined the youths. A police officer, Corporal Etaga Stanley of 'A' Division, Ughelli was disarmed, killed and his weapon and ammunition taken.[125][126]
On Wednesday, 14 October 2020, young people in Effurun and Warri, Delta State joined in the protests.[127]
Anambra State[edit]
On Saturday, 10 October 2020, hundreds of young people gathered at Ekwueme Square, Awka in the morning hours and peacefully marched past the Eke Awka market, and through the major streets of the town with placards.[128] SARS Awkuzu which is well known for human rights abuses is located in Anambra State.[129] The protests continued in Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of Anambra State on Monday, 12 October, with protesters demanding that SARS be completely disbanded.[130]
Protests continued in Awka on Wednesday, 14 October 2020 with protesters demanding for a total reform of the Nigerian Police Force.[131]
On Friday, 16 October 2020, #EndSARS protesters including popular musicians and Anambra indigenes Phyno, Flavour, KCee, MasterKraft, marched from Awka, the state capital to Awkuzu town, where the dreaded SARS unit[132] is situated, calling for the total shutdown of the office.[133] The peaceful protesters were shot at by the officers of the supposedly dissolved SARS.[134][135]
Abia State[edit]
A similar protest was held simultaneously in Umuahia, capital of Abia State, by other youths in the state. They visited the police headquarters on Bende Road and Abịa State House of Assembly as well as the Abia Government House.[136]
In Aba, the state's commercial nerve centre, youths took to the streets protesting police brutality on citizens.[137]
In a statement on his Twitter handle, the governor said: "I have taken note of the peaceful protests tagged #EndSARS and wish to assure Abịa youth and the general public that we will take up their concerns and ensure that your voices are heard at the right quarters."[136][138]
Kwara State[edit]
On Thursday 8 October 2020 the campaigners against the excesses of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), the police squad known for its human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings marched peacefully through some streets of Ilorin, Kwara state capital,[139] demanding outright ban of operations of SARS by the Nigeria Police.[140] On 12 October 2020, protesters surrounded the Kwara State government house where on behalf of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the deputy governor, Kayode Alabi, assured that their complaints have been heard.[141]
Osun State[edit]
On Monday, 12 October 2020, protesters in Osogbo, Osun State took to the streets of the capital town to protest against SARS with placards demanding that the squad be disbanded. The protests which took off from Olaiya junction and moved to the State House of Assembly caused traffic disruptions at the gate of government house, Osogbo as the protesters demanded that the Governor address them.[142][143]
Rivers State[edit]
Aggrieved Nigerians in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Tuesday 13 2020, took to the streets of Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital, to protest against police brutality in defiance to the directive of the State Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike who had earlier issued a statement to the general public that all forms of protests have been banned throughout the State. The state governor, having observed this defiance by the protesters, joined them in solidarity, citing how Rivers State citizens had suffered so much police brutality carried out by members of SARS.[144][145]
Ogun State[edit]
Fifteen #EndSARS protestors were arrested in Ogun State.[146] While others were released, three of the protesters; Adeniji Sodiq, Mutairu Faruq and Olatoye Joseph, who were arrested at the palace of the king of Owu on Friday, 9 October 2020 were charged for murder by the police. After review of all evidence and as recommended by the Ogun State Attorney General, the Governor, Dapo Abiodun gave orders for their release as the charges against the protesters were withdrawn.[147] At Akute/Ajuwon/Agbole axis, Ogun State, Femi Kuti an Afrobeat musician, the son of late music icon Fela Kuti joined the protests and helped to stop many protesters from being arrested[148]
Enugu State[edit]
On Tuesday, 13 October 2020, hundreds of protesters from different parts of Enugu State with placards denouncing and asking for the end to SARS, police brutality, extortion and harassment converged and moved from Okpara Square, Enugu to the Criminal Investigation Department where they submitted the five demands of the EndSARS protests. They were joined by musicians, Chinedu Izuchukwu Okoli known as Flavour, Chibuzor Nelson Azubuike, popularly known as Phyno and Zoro, a rapper. The protestors were later joined by the deputy governor of the State, Lolo Cecilia Ezeilo.[149][150]
Ebonyi State[edit]
On Tuesday, 13 October 2020, hundreds of protesters in Abakiliki, capital of Ebonyi State took to the streets with placards demanding an end to police brutality and the prosecution of guilty officers.[151]
Edo State[edit]
The #EndSARS protest in Benin City turned violent on Friday, 16 October 2020 as the protesters that gathered at the Edo State House of Assembly got attacked with stones and bullets by suspected thugs who claimed that the protesters disturbed their daily businesses. Two protesters were killed and many were injured in the attack.[152]
The protesters, in retaliation, took the fight back to where the thugs converged at the museum ground in King's Square (Ring Road) where they engaged in a brawl. The activities of the protesters left the Ring Road deserted due to fear of possible escalation of violence as motorists sought for alternative routes to their destination.[153]
The Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, condemned the attack on the #EndSARS protesters in Benin City by unidentified hoodlums. He stated that a thorough investigation would be effected immediately to bring the culprits to justice.[154] In a statement, the governor commissioned the Edo State police command to come out fully and provide appropriate security to the protesters, as they were exercising their rights as concerned citizens of Nigeria.[154]
According to him, "I have just learnt that hoodlums have attacked #EndSARS protesters, who have conducted themselves peacefully in Benin City. I extend condolences to the victims of the attacks, including those who lost their lives and others who were injured by the thugs. It is disheartening that anyone would attack a peaceful assembly of young people who are expressing genuine concerns over police brutality and intimidation in their own country. I hereby call on the Edo State Police Command to get out on the streets and provide adequate security for the protesters and ensure that no one is harassed in the course of exercising their rights."[155]
On 19 October 2020, news broke that "hoodlums" had stormed the correctional center in Edo state to free jailed inmates as part of the End SARS movement demands.[156][157]
Plateau State[edit]
Jos, the capital of Plateau State saw youths in their number storm the city centre demanding the disbandment of the newly created Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) police unit by the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Adamu.[158]
The protesters called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Police Service Commission (PSC) to overhaul the entire Nigerian Police Force.[158]
Displaying placards with various inscriptions such as #EndSARS; #EndSWAT; "We don't want SWAT"; "There's no difference between SWAT and SARS"; "We want complete and total overhaul of all security apparatus in the country", the youths stormed the Plateau State House of Assembly, The Plateau State Government House and other major streets in the city, calling on the state and federal government and the Nigerian Police Force to take action over the spate of extrajudicial killings by the operatives of the Nigerian Police. Placing it in context of the state, they called on the government to look into the general issues of insecurity in Plateau State among other neighbouring states.[159]
Voluntary donations[edit]
The #EndSARS protests were sustained by voluntary donations made by Nigerian citizens and the international community. There were voluntary donations of food items, water, and professional services by lawyers and doctors for protesters.[7] Donations also came from local tech start-ups whose young male workers were constantly harassed by SARS and profiled as internet fraudsters because of laptops usually found in their possession.[161][162]
Role of the internet[edit]
The 2020 EndSARS protest was largely effective due to the use of digital technology, particularly the internet. Nigerian youths tagged the 'soro soke' generation started the protest from Twitter before taking it to the streets.[178] 'Soro soke' is a Yoruba phrase which means 'speak louder'. It was used on social media and offline to encourage people to speak up in protest.[179][180]
On 9 October 2020, the #EndSARS hashtag trended globally on social media. A report analysis showed that the online protest was responsible for 48 million mentions and Tweets from 5 million unique authors on Twitter between 5 October and 14 October 2020.[181] The EndSARS protests, which started on 8 October 2020, continued in major cities across the country and attracted international mainstream media attention. It brought to the consciousness of the global world, the injustice meted out on the Nigerian youth by SARS officers and kept the Nigerian government on their toes in a never-seen before manner.
The campaign has witnessed reactions on social media from international celebrities such as Cardi B, Beyonce, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Rihanna, Trey Songz, Big Sean, Jidenna, John Boyega, Kanye West, Drake, Diddy, Lewis Hamilton, among others, including footballers, Marcus Rashford, Odion Ighalo, and Mesut Ozil.[182][183][184][185][186][187]
The EndSARS protest was endorsed by Jack Dorsey, the C.E.O of Twitter with a unique emoji, and he promoted donations for the protest using Bitcoin[188]
With the news that SARS had been disbanded, Nigerians took the news with a grain of salt and carried on with pressing their demands for total disengagement of the unit and wide-ranging reform of the force. The hashtag on social media changed from #EndSARS to #SARSMustEnd! With the announcement of a new unit, Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT), by the Nigerian Police to replace SARS, the hashtag for the protests quickly changed to #EndSWAT on Twitter.[189] EndSWAT also trended.[190]
On Thursday, 15 October 2020, Google Africa made a statement on its Twitter handle in support of the End SARS protests condemning police intimidation, oppression, and brutality while urging the government to speedily intervene and resolve the crisis.[191]
Although the protest was cut short untimely on 20 October 2020 due to the Lekki Toll Gate Shooting, it lasted that long due to the internet. Mobilization of protesters, communication, and real-time updates took place via social media. Equally, funds to keep the protest going were raised on the internet. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) initially ordered banks to freeze about 20 accounts linked to the protest fundraising,[192] but cryptocurrency soon became an option. With the help of the Feminists Coalition, which was at the forefront of fundraising for the protest, about N87.4 million was raised.[193] They disbursed funds for mental health support, security on protest grounds, medical emergency response, and relief for victims of SARS brutality and families of victims of extrajudicial killings.
EndSARS Legal aid led by Modupe Odele created a network of over 400 volunteer lawyers across Nigeria, representing illegally detained protesters.[194] Nigerians and certain brands donated food, drinks, nose masks, and sometimes raincoats after calls were made on social media. The EndSARS Online Radio provided entertainment when needed and communication for youth protesting from remote places. Protesters were also connected to safe spaces to hide when there is chaos via the internet. And this is not forgetting that petitions played a huge role in getting the attention of international bodies, and they were signed on the internet.
Celebrity actions[edit]
Many celebrities and Black Lives Matter activists wrote letters directed to President Buhari demanding justice for and the humane treatment of Nigerian people during the protests. Buhari was also urged to free jailed protestors. A letter organised by the Black Lives Matter co-founder Opal Tometi was signed by celebrities Alicia Keys, Donald Glover, Mark Ruffalo, and Kerry Washington, activist Greta Thunberg, as well as writers Reni Eddo-Lodge, Naomi Klein, and Afua Hirsch.[195]
Aftermath[edit]
“The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force was dissolved with immediate effect", a statement from the office of the president, Muhammadu Buhari.[196][197] The Lagos State Government through the office of the governor, Babajide Sanwolu denied any involvement or alleged massacre at the Lekki toll gate.[198] However, the Nigerian Army, claimed to be invited by the Lagos State Government, but never shoot at protesters or using live ammunitions.[199][200] The Lagos State Government on the 19 October 2020 set up a four-man Judiciary Panel Committee[201] led by Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN). Other members of the committee are; Commissioner for Youths and Social Development, Segun Dawodu; Special Adviser, Works and Infrastructure, Aramide Adeyoye and permanent secretary, Cabinet Office, Tolani Oshodi. The committee was to look into the activities of SARS, the panel was also saddled with the investigation of the shootings that took place on 20 October 2020, at the Lekki Tollgate. The Panel presented a white paper[202] on the 15th of November, 2021.[203][204][205] Although, some prominent Nigerians like Femi Falana (SAN) and Festus Keyamo (SAN) challenged the constitutional legality of the panel.[206][207] Sanwo-Olu signed an executive order for the establishment of Rebuild Lagos Trust Fund to aid in repairing facilities that were destroyed during the protest.[208][209]