[ad_1]
The anger built up over the brutal treatment of real or imagined suspects by a police unit popularly known as SARS (Special Anti-Theft Squad) has triggered a wave of protests and civil disobedience in Nigeria. The protest has continued to gather momentum as increasing numbers of people, both Nigerians and non-Nigerians, are adding their voices to the call for an end to police brutality in the country. Young Nigerians may at last have found a voice and a platform to demand radical change and transformation. Even after the dissolution of the notorious police team, the protest has continued as protesters demand far-reaching reforms, including a restructuring of Nigerian politics. The End SARS campaign has become a symbol of a national awakening and a vent of pent-up anguish. Indeed, the protest embodies the immortal desire of the country’s youth for a new Nigeria, or rather, a Nigeria that works for them.
Thus, the “End SARS” protest has gone beyond demanding an end to police brutality, extortion, and extrajudicial killings, and has called for reform of all sectors of the government. The protest has turned into a national agitation against bad government, abuse of power, injustice, impunity, impoverishment of the masses and everything that is wrong with Nigeria as it is constituted and governed.
But should that surprise anyone? Should not.
Any intelligent observer of Nigerian society knows that Nigeria is a country undergoing extreme stress and strain. Although Nigeria survived a civil war, it continues to wage war against its citizens on several fronts. Nigeria is a nation in need of radical change because police brutality is just the tip of the iceberg of terror and oppression that Nigerian state institutions have unleashed on citizens. To be meaningful, the change must be total and complete. Africa’s most popular nation requires a review of its governance and management system. Since independence, Nigeria has been on the brink of implosion and disintegration. And now, a growing wave of anger, frustration and disappointment across the country has sparked a wave of protests. As the protest against SARS has shown, the change Nigeria needs cannot be achieved by the people in power, but by the exercise of power by the people. Nigeria will only be able to make a significant change when Nigerians rise up and start holding their leaders, and all those who run the various institutions, accountable.
Look, the people in power have a vested interest in Nigeria as it is constituted and administered. They wouldn’t bother to make any significant changes unless pushed and pushed because the status quo benefits them. Any demand for a change contained in the End SARS protest threatens your interest and power base. So the people in power will do everything possible – and will do everything possible – to thwart, hijack or undermine a campaign for change. Cases of police brutality, excessive use of force, torture, extortion and extrajudicial executions by SARS agents have been widely observed. Several non-governmental organizations, including Amnesty International, have highlighted the atrocities and egregious violations committed by this police team.
SARS agents have disappeared or orchestrated the cold-blooded murder of persons suspected of armed robbery, kidnapping, internet fraud or yahoo-yahoo. Sadly, these heinous acts and rapes have been going on in many places for too long. Many people have been victims and no one is held accountable. Police officers who err are not brought to justice, but are promoted or rewarded. The government has been a facilitator of police brutality. The government has maintained a criminal silence as those paid to protect Nigerians attack, torture, brutalize and murder them with impunity.
Just over a week ago, young people in Nigeria said: Enough is enough. So have we reached that long-awaited tipping point? Nigerian youth are saying enough about torture, intimidation, harassment and killings by the police. No more oppression and exploitation by politicians and other Nigerian business managers. Young people took to the streets to demand an end to impunity and oppression. The turmoil has led to the dissolution of SARS and its replacement by SWAT. But that development has not mitigated the anger and grief of long-suffering Nigerian youth. The protesters are demanding that the reform be extended to all sectors of Nigerian society because the abuse is systemic. Impunity is widespread. Institutional oppression, rape, and theft of people occur in all sectors. As part of the protest to end SARS, Nigerians want police officers and other public officials to be held accountable. A prolonged and persistent struggle and protest awaits young Nigerians. Will the power of the people put an end to police brutality? Will the power of the people and the protesters force a ‘spring’, a Nigerian spring, a total reform of the country?
Only time will tell?
