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Nigeria’s protests against police brutality are “the most important moment” in the country’s history, music star Burna Boy told Sky News.
His words come two weeks after the protests began, sparked by a video showing a man being beaten, apparently by SARS (Special Anti-Theft Squad) policemen.
Since then, the End SARS movement has spread across Nigeria and at least 56 people have died, 38 of them on Tuesday alone, Amnesty International claims.
Nigeria has witnessed two weeks of protests over police violence
Amnesty International said it has evidence of multiple deaths after gunmen used live bullets in a protest against police brutality at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos, the most populous city in Africa.
Burna Boy, who spoke to Sky News from London, said: “It’s shocking when you see what happens in that place, in a place like this, that it was the milestone of everything.
“The Lekki toll gate, that was the most peaceful place to protest, the most peaceful place in the whole country and then that’s where (the shootings) happen. It’s not something you can just understand.”
The best-selling Afrobeats artist, who has mixed rap, funk and dancehall influences on international hits such as On The Low and Ye, said national protests against SARS have changed the nature of politics in his homeland.
“This is the most important moment in Nigerian history … that’s what we are witnessing right now because if nothing changes after this, if this doesn’t work, then it’s over.”
When asked what he meant by this, he replied: “Look what is happening right now: the youth have come together, as something inexplicable (sic), something that no man could have organized or directed, the youth of the nation. The world’s largest black woman joined in, said enough is enough and this was caused by police brutality.
“It’s not like it’s been triggered by all the other things that it should have been triggered by all these years.”
Burna Boy said Nigerians have a right to know who ordered the Lekki Gate shooting and which branch of the security services carried it out.
These questions have not been addressed by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who did not mention the violence at the Lekki tollbooth in a nationally televised speech.
“You cannot kill all these people in this place, whose only crime is asking for a better future and not having any explanation of how it happened.
“How can you, the governor (of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu), wake up the next day and say that no one died and say all this shit he said? This is what people want to hear. Who is he? responsible? Who exactly gave the order? “
President Buhari said he has complied with the protesters’ demands, including the dissolution order of SARS and the creation of compensation funds for the victims of the unit.
The time has come, Buhari added, for the protesters to desist.
But Burna Boy was angered by the suggestion that Nigeria’s police problems had been solved.
“They’ve said that before, haven’t they? They’ve said it two or three times, right? So what makes this time different? So we should go home, everyone should go home because you say it again ?
“So far all you’ve shown me is the blood of my people.”
The West African musician, who has worked with artists including Drake, Stormzy and Ed Sheeran, said he has little time for his profession as members of his generation fight for a future they can believe in.
“I don’t care about any music right now, I don’t care now, none of that matters to me now, you know? I don’t want to listen to any music right now.”
