The killing of innocent Nigerians and the agitations on the streets and social media see the world appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to put an end to the police brutality in Africa’s biggest economy.



After nearly two weeks of protests calling for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Unit (SARS) by the youth in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari finally addressed the nation last night in a televised statement, which many Nigerians find disappointing and lacking empathy.



He urged protestors to stop demonstrating and advised the international community to be mindful of fake news. To the surprise of the country’s 200 million inhabitants, President Buhari did not mention anything about the killing of peaceful protestors in Lagos. According to a report by Amnesty International, at least 12 protestors at Alausa and Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos were massacred during peaceful protests by the Nigerian military.



This latest development happened as the state government in Lagos on Tuesday, October 20, imposed an indefinite round-the-clock curfew which led to military forces converging at the melting point of the protests at the Lekki Toll Gate, where shots were fired directly into the crowd of peaceful protestors.



“I cannot believe this is Nigeria. There is no reason why peaceful protestors should lose their lives. This is completely unacceptable and we need the soldiers responsible for this heinous attack arrested and brought to justice immediately. The fight is not over and we will not be intimidated,” says Tobi Bello, one of the protestors who was at the Lekki Toll Gate during the unfortunate incident.



In an Instagram live, which had more than 150,000 people watching, Obianuju Catherine Udeh, known popularly as DJ Switch, could be seen with other protestors shouting and trying to save the life of a victim of the gun violence that ensued at the tollgate.



Amnesty published a report which highlighted at least 82 cases of torture and ill-treatment and extra-judicial execution between January 2017 and May this year against members of SARS. In response to the protests, President Buhari disbanded SARS on October 11 but protests continued amidst a call for greater reform.



The killing of innocent Nigerians has sparked an international appeal for justice and for President Buhari to put an end to the police brutality and killings in the country.

NIGERIA-CRIME-POLICE-DEMO

#EndSARS: The Protests And Cries That Have Paralyzed A Nation

After two weeks of massive demonstrations against police brutality brought Nigeria’s financial hub, Lagos, to a virtual standstill, government security forces using live ammunition opened fire Tuesday on hundreds of protestors rallying against a government-mandated 24-hour curfew.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">KEY FACTS</h4>



At least seven people were killed during the melee, according to a&nbsp;Guardian&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/20/nigeria-protests-lead-to-24-hour-lagos-curfew" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a>&nbsp;citing a popular African disc jockey, DJ Switch, who was live-streaming the demonstration on Instagram.



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielcassady/2020/10/21/nigerian-security-forces-open-fire-on-protesters-in-lagos-24-hour-statewide-curfew-imposed/#25fb23a52360" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Also read: Nigerian Security Forces Open Fire On Protesters In Lagos, 24-Hour Statewide Curfew Imposed</a>



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229172440.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-48560" width="400" height="267" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229172440.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229172440-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229172440-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229172440-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /><figcaption>(Photo by BENSON IBEABUCHI/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>



The protests began on October 7 with calls to disband an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/20/end-sars-24-hour-curfew-imposed-in-lagos-as-protests-continue#:~:text=Nationwide%20protests%20have%20continued%20since,(SARS)%2C%20which%20has%20long" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">infamous police unit</a>&nbsp;that had long been accused of extortion, torture and extra-juditial killings, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).



SARS was dissolved on October 11, but quickly replaced by the Special Weapons and Tactics team, and demonstrations continued, only to be met with “<a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/10/nigeria-authorities-must-initiate-genuine-reform-of-the-police/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">excessive force</a>” by government security forces, according to Amnesty International, including the use of tear gas, water cannons and live ammunition against protesters.



Almost 2,000 prison inmates escaped after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-police-police-brutality-lagos-robbery-1dabdf270ca2f6937b0ddc49fa0ad84f" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">crowds</a>&nbsp;stormed two prisons Monday in Benin City in southern Nigeria, according the Associated Press.



On Tuesday, state officials&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/lagos-imposes-indefinite-curfew-curb-nigeria-protests-police-deploy-anti-n1244030" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deployed</a>&nbsp;anti-riot forces to protect police and correctional facilities which some demonstrators had begun targeting, and announced a nationwide 24-hour curfew in response to the unrest.



At least 15 people have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/10/nigeria-authorities-must-initiate-genuine-reform-of-the-police/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">died</a>&nbsp;during the demonstrations, according to Amnesty International.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">KEY BACKGROUND</h4>



What began as mostly peaceful protests have turned increasingly violent in recent days. Groups of armed young men who are reportedly being paid to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/20/nigeria-protests-lead-to-24-hour-lagos-curfew" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">discredit</a>&nbsp;the anti-police movement by powerful interests in Nigeria have allegedly been attacking the demonstrators, fueling the unrest, and provoking the government&#8217;s response. Tens of thousands of people have joined in the demonstrations across the country, but as they grow more violent, government security forces have responded in kind. The Nigerian Army said it was standing by in case “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/oct/15/army-standby-police-brutality-protests-nigeria" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">subversive</a>&nbsp;elements and troublemakers” continue to cause problems for the police.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">BIG NUMBER</h4>



21 Million.&nbsp;That’s how many people&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cfr.org/blog/home-over-half-population-nigerias-cities-continue-boom" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">live</a>&nbsp;in the state of Lagos, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, all of whom are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/lagos-imposes-indefinite-curfew-curb-nigeria-protests-police-deploy-anti-n1244030" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supposed</a>&nbsp;to adhere to the curfew. That’s more people than live in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/NY" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York State</a>.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h4>



I have watched with shock how what began as a peaceful #EndSARS protest has degenerated into a <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://twitter.com/jidesanwoolu/status/1318504576937578497?s=20" target="_blank">monster</a> that is threatening the well-being of our society. Lives and limbs have been lost as criminals and miscreants are now hiding under the umbrella of these protests to unleash mayhem on our state.” said Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos.



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1281525122.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-48564" width="615" height="410" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1281525122.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1281525122-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1281525122-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1281525122-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 615px) 100vw, 615px" /><figcaption> People protest against recent violence at demonstrations in Nigeria on October 21, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229199549.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-48562" width="628" height="418" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229199549.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229199549-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229199549-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229199549-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 628px) 100vw, 628px" /><figcaption>Protestors attend a demonstration outside the Nigerian High Commission against police brutality in Lagos in London on October 21, 2020. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229214931.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-48563" width="646" height="430" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229214931.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229214931-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229214931-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229214931-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 646px) 100vw, 646px" /><figcaption>Activists protesting police brutality by the Nigerian Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) march along Whitehall in London, England, on October 21, 2020. (Photo by David Cliff/NurPhoto via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229197906.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-48561" width="637" height="424" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229197906.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229197906-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229197906-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229197906-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 637px) 100vw, 637px" /><figcaption>Nigerians based in South Africa protest outside their embassy in Pretoria on October 21, 2020 in solidarity with Nigerian youth. (Photo by PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">FURTHER READING</h4>



<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-police-police-brutality-lagos-robbery-1dabdf270ca2f6937b0ddc49fa0ad84f" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nearly 2,000 inmates escape in attacks on Nigeria prisons</a>&nbsp;(Associated Press)



<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/20/end-sars-24-hour-curfew-imposed-in-lagos-as-protests-continue#:~:text=Nationwide%20protests%20have%20continued%20since,(SARS)%2C%20which%20has%20long" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nigeria deploying anti-riot police as curfew imposed in Lagos</a>&nbsp;(Al Jazzera)



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/17/nigerias-anti-police-brutality-protests-bring-lagos-to-standstill" target="_blank">Nigeria&#8217;s anti-police brutality protests bring Lagos to standstill</a>&nbsp;(The Guardian)



&#8211;by Daniel Cassady, Forbes Staff

Nigeria 1

Here’s Why Thousands Of Nigerians Are Protesting In Lagos

Just as the country celebrates its diamond jubilee, police brutality protests in Nigeria and the disbanding of a rogue unit.



Kunle Martins vividly recalls when he almost lost his life in Lagos because of an iPhone 6. The day started on a positive note. He received a delivery of the new phone sent by his family the night before, in celebration of his 25th birthday, to his flat in Surulere.



“This was my dream phone and I had been telling everyone how I was saving up to buy it and never expected my family to give me such a generous gift,” says the young man who works as a customer service operator for a leading bank in Lagos. After setting up his phone, he set off for work as he usually does around 5AM to catch the local bus to Victoria Island.



Then things took a sinister turn.



“As I was approaching the bus stop, an unmarked car pulled up in front of me and two men with guns forced me into the back of the car where there were another two men in the back seat. They tied my hands and let me lie down on the floor as they searched my pockets. I thought they were armed robbers initially but they said they were from SARS and they had been following me because they suspected me of being a Yahoo boy (internet fraudster).”



“I tried to protest and they slapped me with the back of their gun and broke my front teeth. There was blood everywhere. They asked me how a young boy like me could afford such an expensive phone. They drove me to an ATM and told me to log into my account to prove that I was not a criminal. I had only N40,000 ($104) in my bank account to take me to the end of the month. They cleared all my money and took my phone and left me by the side of the road,” says Martins.



This was not the first time he had been harassed by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigerian police force.



“I am always being stopped by SARS especially because I carry a laptop bag and they use that to determine whether I have money or not. I explain that I work with the bank, show them my work ID and I always ensure I have about N1,000 ($2) on me and my wallet hidden whenever I move around in Lagos. Most of the time, they push me about, slap me and take the N1,000 naira.”



This time he was not so lucky. His story is part of the ongoing outcry of young Nigerians against years of police brutality, kidnapping and even murder committed by the SARS unit. With protests breaking out across Nigeria over the past five days, the #EndSARS social media campaign has ignited widespread anger both locally and with the Nigerian expatriate communities around the world.



Established in 1992 with the mandate of putting an end to violent crime and the high prevalence of robbery in Lagos, SARS operated as faceless, tactical teams that traveled in unmarked vehicles.



“The idea was to create a special police unit that could blend into the community without being noticed and disrupt the growing criminal elements across Lagos who were known for carrying out violent armed robberies. They were created to act as a last line of defense to protect their fellow Nigerian brothers and sisters, not torture them,” says Obinna Johnson.



On a rainy night out with his friends, he was stopped by two SARS operatives who demanded they pay a bribe before they were allowed to proceed to the club. When he refused, the SARS officers opened fire in the air and asked them to step out of the car and lie face down on the muddy floor.



“They then proceeded to search our pockets to take our money and searched our cars to take the Hennessy bottles that we had bought for the party we were going to and left,” recalls Johnson.



Nobody ever files a police report mainly due to fear of reprisal and also because they believe nothing will ever be done. The anonymity was considered vital for taking on the criminals that terrorized Lagos at the time but over the years this has led to abuse against Nigerian youth. There have been widespread allegations of the SARS unit targeting well-dressed youths, those with tattoos and dreadlocks and harassing them for money, torturing and even killing those who resist.



Osai Ojigho, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, puts the blame on the failure of the Nigerian authorities to bring an end to the gross human rights violations carried out by SARS.



“This unit has consistently used torture and other ill treatment to carry out police investigations. We have also uncovered torture chambers within the Nigerian police as well as countless testimonies of people being detained and tortured which is against their fundamental human rights despite the 2017 anti-torture act,” says Ojigho.



The global human rights organization have documented some 82 cases of abuse and killings since January 2017 to May 2020 as highlighted in their report Nigeria: Horrific reign of impunity by SARS makes mockery of anti-torture law.



The widespread demonstrations have led to the government dissolving SARS this week but Nigerian youth and victims of this corrupt unit say this is only the beginning.



“We are demanding immediate release of all arrested protestors, justice for all deceased victims of police brutality and appropriate compensation for their families, setting up an independent body to oversee the investigation and prosecution of all reports of all police misconduct (within 10 days), a psychological evaluation and retraining of all disbanded SARS officers before being redeployed and an Increase in police salary so they are adequately compensated for protecting lives and property of citizens,” says Banky Wellington, a Nigerian singer and politician.



According to a report by Reuters, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has promised that the government would bring police officers responsible for misconduct to justice after protestors were met with a harsh response when police opened fire with live ammunition against demonstrators.



<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignleft size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229008074-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-48378" width="414" height="276" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229008074-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229008074-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229008074-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229008074-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229008074-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1229008074-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 414px) 100vw, 414px" /><figcaption>Protesters demonstrate outside the Nigeria High Commission in central London. (Photo by Kirsty O&#8217;Connor/PA Images via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>



Young people between the ages of 17 and 30 are the most at risk of arrest, torture or extortion and are a significant population of the demonstrations taking place all over the country.



“It is unacceptable that the police will shoot with live bullets at peaceful protestors. One person lost their life and we must find those responsible and bring them to justice immediately,” says Tolu Ogunlesi, special assistant on digital media to the president of Nigeria.



The governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in a recent tweet advised “we are setting up a trust fund to compensate the families of police brutality in Lagos state” even though no amount of money can reduce their pain. The trust fund will be supervised by a team appointed transparently by members of the public.



But will there be real change after the protests are over?



“Nigerians are always outraged but they now know that it never lasts. It is just a matter of time and people go on with their business. The victims are the ones who feel the pain. For those who have died at the hands of SARS, it is over, they have been killed. After trending the hashtag and being outraged for a few hours, they will move on but the families will never move on and then you are left thinking who is going to be the next victim,” says Aisha Yesufu, the hijab-wearing revolutionary leading the #EndSARS protest.

Tag: endSARS

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA

#EndSARS: The Protests And Cries That Have Paralyzed A Nation

Here’s Why Thousands Of Nigerians Are Protesting In Lagos

Nigeria Dissolves SARS But The Youth Demand Justice