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Last year saw a significant increase in global demonstrations against police brutality. Following recent protests in Nigeria, the #EndSARS social media campaign has grown exponentially online, with supporters demanding that the controversial SARS police unit be held accountable for the brutal mistreatment of Nigerian citizens. Large protests continue to take place in Nigeria and beyond, with influential figures such as John Boyega and Rihanna voicing their support. Below you can find everything you need to know about the recent demonstrations, as well as tips on how you can help SARS protesters in Nigeria.
What is SARS?
Nigeria’s Special Anti-Theft Squad, commonly known as SARS, was founded in 1984 to help combat violent crime, including robbery and kidnapping. As Sky News reports, the unit has been hit with accusations of mistreatment of Nigerian citizens and increasing abuses of power in the decades after its conception, which, according to human rights groups, has worsened in recent years.
For him New York TimesSARS operated as a “faceless team of 15 members who traveled in two buses without identification, their officers were not wearing uniforms or identification plates.” The unit became known for targeting apparently well-dressed youths, and they have been known to rob, torture, and even kill those who tried to resist them.
Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International have documented SARS-related complaints since the 1990s, and earlier this year the group highlighted at least 82 cases of extortion, torture and ill-treatment by SARS between January 2017 and May 2020.
Why are there protests against SARS in Nigeria?
Although first launched in 2017, the #EndSARS online campaign attracted international attention following reports that a young man had been killed in southern Nigeria during an arrest and search on October 3. Nigerian police denied that SARS officers were involved, but his death sparked mass protests across the country and demonstrations of support in countries around the world.
The protests appeared to have met with some success when President Muhammadu Buhari announced that SARS had been “dissolved with immediate effect” on Sunday, October 11. However, the announcement was met with skepticism by many after it emerged that the SARS agents would be transferred to other areas. of the police force, while others said the measures do not go far enough. “The announcement falls short of the demands for accountability and justice for the abuses committed by the unit and the police in general,” Osai Ojigho of Amnesty International said in a statement.
The protests continued and many activists called for more police and government. As Sky News reports, Abuja city authorities have called for an end to all protests, and the Nigerian military vowed to “uphold law and order and address any situation decisively.” Regions, including Lagos, also plan to impose temporary curfews in an attempt to break up the protests, the BBC reports.
What happened on October 20 at Lekki Toll Gate?
Sky News reports that Nigerian police opened fire on protesters in a rally against police brutality in Lekki, a suburb of the capital Lagos, on October 20. According to the BBC, an as yet undetermined number of people were shot or wounded. In a statement, Amnesty International Nigeria said it had “received credible but disturbing evidence of excessive use of force causing deaths of protesters at the Lekki tollbooth in Lagos. ”
He continued: “As we continue to investigate the killings, Amnesty International wishes to remind the authorities that, under international law, security forces may only resort to the use of deadly force when strictly unavoidable to protect against an imminent threat of death or serious injury. “.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said in a statement on Twitter that “forces beyond our direct control” had caused violence against protesters and confirmed that he had been visiting “victims of an unfortunate shooting” in hospitals.
He wrote: “This is the hardest night of our lives, as forces beyond our direct control have moved to make dark notes on our history, but we will face it and come out stronger. I have just concluded hospital visits with victims. from this”. unfortunate incident of shooting in Lekki “.
Adding: “As Governor of our state, I acknowledge that the ball stops at my table and I will work with the FG to get to the root of this unfortunate incident and stabilize all security operations to protect the lives of our residents. A state broadcast in the morning “.
How you can help from the UK
Campaign groups like EndSARS UK they aim to amplify the voices of Nigerian youth against police brutality with protests in the UK. A protest against the reported shootings and killings at the Lekki toll gate will be held at the Nigerian High Commission in London at 3pm on October 21. Details of future demonstrations can be found at the campaign’s social media channels.
Supporters in the UK can also sign a petition demanding that the UK government implement sanctions against the Nigerian government and officials, and send an email via Amnesty International to President Muhammadu Buhari and Attorney General Abubakar Malami demanding a police reform in Nigeria.
Elsewhere, you can find fundraising links and donate to initiatives that aim to help protesters in Nigeria at the EndSARS resource center. The Nigerian Feminist Coalition, a group at the forefront of peaceful protests, is receiving BitCoin donations here. According to British writer and activist Tanya Compass, those in the UK can use CoinBase to send BitCoin donations.
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