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Dancing, singing and determined: Thousands of young Nigerians stall on the streets of the megacity of Lagos to protest against police violence and vent into a society they feel marginalizes them.
The economic center and beating heart of West Africa, normally packed with traffic, is at a standstill as protesters have taken over main roads day after day since last week.
The gigantic Lekki toll gate, a key crossroads in and out of the city of 20 million people, is the main stage for the ongoing opposition festival.
DJs take turns on a makeshift stage in front of a jubilant crowd, while others set up pool tables and con artists sell sodas nearby.
Convertible Mercedes and beaten-up cars park side by side in the crowd, windows down and music blasting, while onlookers sip beers and salute with clenched fists.
The more affluent protesters distribute bottles of water and soft drinks. Popular food chains distribute provisions. Nigeria’s green and white flag goes hand-in-hand for selfies.
Protesters have gathered at the Lekki toll gate, a key crossing in and out of the city of 20 million people. By Pierre FAVENNEC (AFP) Rich, poor, feminists and gays, celebrities and street children all chant the same slogan: “Let’s end SARS now,” in reference to the Special Anti-Theft Squad, a police unit widely accused of human rights violations.
The slogan, initially launched to denounce the unit after a video of a man allegedly killed by police went viral last month, has become a rallying cry against injustice and for more freedom.
‘Does not go anywhere’
“If we have money in our bank account, they say we are guys from Yahoo (cybercriminals). If we wear earrings, they say we are homosexuals (illegal in Nigeria). If we have dreadlocks, they say we smoke weed,” Femi Daniel tells AFP a 33-year-old protester.
“We are tired, we are not free in this country.”
Bowing under pressure and facing a massive online campaign supported by celebrities like Cardi B, Kanye West or Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, the government dissolved SARS and announced a series of police reforms.
They are the artists and pop stars of Nigeria, icons whose influence spans across social classes, rather than the politicians who support the movement. By Pierre FAVENNEC (AFP) But it has not been enough to appease the anger and determination of the street.
The creation of a new SWAT team to replace SARS is one of the recently announced measures that protesters oppose.
Quickly, the hashtag #EndSWAT was added to #EndSARS and hundreds of people continued to join the movement in a number of cities, including the capital Abuja.
“#EndSARS brought us together. Now we have our eyes open and we are fighting. Our independence begins now,” says Daniel.
Cynthia Shalom, a famous actress from Nigeria’s Nollywood film industry, is determined to keep the movement going.
He insists that the government address five main demands: the release of all arrested protesters, compensation for the families of victims of police abuse, the creation of an independent investigative body, the psychological evaluation of all dissolved SARS agents, and a increased police salaries.
“They think we’re joking. They look at us, sitting in their offices, and they think we’re party kids and we’re going home. I can tell you, we’re not going anywhere, I’m so proud of our generation,” she says.
‘The protests have multiplied’
“The protests have snowballed into an outlet for latent anger and frustration,” wrote Leena Koni Hoffmann, associate member of Chatham House.
“Nigeria has the highest number of young people living in poverty in the world, as well as the most food insecure households in West Africa.”
The creation of a new SWAT team to replace the Special Anti-Theft Squad is one of the recently announced measures that protesters oppose. By Pierre FAVENNEC (AFP) This social upheaval is, above all, the result of a generational division, where the youth do not identify with their aging rulers.
President Muhammadu Buhari, 77, a conservative Muslim, is at the helm of a country where half of its 200 million inhabitants are under 30 years old and the median age is 18.
They are the pop stars of Nigeria, icons whose influence spans across social classes, rather than the politicians who support the movement.
“We don’t have a leader. But the youth, the masses wanted us celebrities to talk. Now I go out and stay here,” Peter Okoye, a singer known as Mr P with 9 million Instagram Followers, says.
Standing in his luxurious 4×4, the artist’s voice crackles as he yells at the crowd.
“I shouldn’t be here you know. I’m 40 years old, I have a good life, I made it. But one day, my son, my daughter, they will ask me what I was doing in October 2020 and I will tell them ‘I was fighting for you’ “.
