During the past few weeks, you might have noticed Nigerian protesters in the news. There have been multiple protests throughout the African country of Nigeria that have now spread to the rest of the world. These protests are fighting against the constant police brutality that young people face in Nigeria. The movement is to end the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (or SARS for short), who have been targeting young people with high value items such as iPhones, laptops, and expensive cars. The people caught by SARS are illegally profiled, stopped, and searched. This can sometimes lead to arrest.
The protests were started by Nigerian youth who were ready to see change in a country that has been repressed for too long. The entirety of these protests began with focusing on police brutality in early October, after Nigeria’s date of independence from the UK, and they have now shifted into a fight against overall governmental corruption.
This movement has been around for years now, but it has come into light recently because of the growing protests. I had never heard about it until a few weeks ago when my friend Chidera Akanegbu had mentioned it, and I decided to sit down with her and ask a few questions about the ongoing conditions.
Kaleigh: How many times have you been to Nigeria/how often do you go?
Chidera: I have been to Nigeria four times my entire life. My family and I go often as we can, so we are able to visit our family.
Kaleigh: When you go, how long do you typically stay for?
Chidera: My family and I stay in Nigeria for about three weeks each time we visit.
Kaleigh: To the best of your knowledge, what’s going on in Nigeria?
Chidera: As of right now, I understand that the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was to protect the citizens of Nigeria after the widespread robberies in the country. The movement has definitely raised awareness after the officers have been violent towards the people. The unit has also been accused of wrongfully taking belongings of citizens, such as their phones, simply if it just looks “too nice”, assuming they’re guilty of illegal acts. I also found out that President Buhari of Nigeria just made a public announcement to the country basically saying that Nigerians need to stop protesting EndSARS and that they’re a threat to national security.
Kaleigh: What have you noticed about corruption in Nigeria? Has anything happened to you or people you know?
Chidera: In the past years I have gone, I have noticed officers on the highways in Nigeria, wrongfully stopping drivers for no reason and searching their vehicles. The officers will essentially keep the drivers until the drivers give them some money. (Seeing officers on the highways is a frequent thing, and not just a one type stop.) My friend in Nigeria has even told me that he’s afraid to even take his phone out, in fear of a police officer harassing him, or making false accusations of illegal acts.
Kaleigh: What are your thoughts about the entire situation?
Chidera: I think the whole situation is a tragedy alone. It is heartbreaking to see people from back home fighting for their lives, and in the meantime are getting silenced or shot at. The Nigerian government is not even there to help their own people. They lie to the public repeatedly, saying they will pass stricter laws for SARS, or put a stop to it, yet they still exist illegally harassing innocent civilians. It is genuinely hard for me to see people back home, and here in the U.S., continuously fight for their rights (something that should already be guaranteed to them) and the government just sits back and does nothing.
Kaleigh: Is there anything else you want people to know about the situation with SARS?
Chidera: All I can say is that I hope more people educate themselves on this topic because it is a very real and serious situation. Read more articles and donate if possible because change needs to be made.
So, the EndSARS movement is something that should reach people worldwide. There needs to be changes in the Nigerian police force, and a global interest in this could spark this.
I’d like to thank Chidera for her help and contributions to this article, they were very much appreciated!