#EndSARS: The Demands

The truth at this very trying moment in this country is that Nigerians are not proud to be called ians again. This is due to the so many heartbreaking and scary reports happenings in the country.The attacks on innocent Nigerians, who are demanding that things should be done differently.

While growing up, we all have aspirations and what what to impact in Nigeria our country. Also, one of the most popular phrases I was very aware of as a young lad was that “We are the leaders of tomorrow.” But I am beginning to wonder if the present crop of leaders are willing to see the leaders of tomorrow grow. It is evident that they don’t want the youth to fulfil destinies or rather leader the tomorrow. 

The #EndSARS campaign all started as an innocent request by the teeming Nigerian youths. They only wanted the government to put an end to the extra-judicial killings, extortion and harassment. The Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, as a monster to the Nigerian youth.

Are We still One?

Many Nigerians have narrated their ordeal in the hands of the SARS operatives. While many others could not live to tell their stories. The campaign started on the social media platform where youths created the awareness. The awareness was a call for an end to police brutality and demanded that Police Force should be reformed.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu a few days after the demands by the #EndSARS protesters came up with an announcement that the SARS unit should be dissolved nationwide while a unit called Special Weapons And Tactics, SWAT was launched. 

This doesn’t go down well with many of the people who demanded a reform of the unit. They stated that SWAT is only a replica of SARS. Hence punching a hole in the IGP’s intention about their demands. Is it that the IGP did not understood their demands or he chose to ignore them?.

Nigerian Army were reportedly sent to Lagos State to open fire on some of the protesters at Lekki Tollgate. Many Nigerians have opened that people have the right under the Nigerian constitution to protest. They made it clear that is their right to make their grievances known to the government.

A huge surprise happened on Tuesday October 20, 2020 ( Black Tuesday). The Nigerian Army reportedly shot many protesters dead after the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared a 24hrs curfew in the State.

Demands of #EndSARS Protesters

All they demanded was a genuine reform of the Nigerian Police Force. It was to avoid extra-judicial killings and harassment. Unfortunately, many of the people who made the demand are not alive to witness their dream. In some other places, hoodlums attacked protesters and it was alleged that they were men of the Nigerian Army.

The Nigerian Military has denied the reports. The peaceful protesters carried the Nigerian flag ( a symbol that should be respected by the Nigerian Army). But it seems like a well scripted plan given the reports about how the CCTV at Lekki Tollgate was disconnected. How the light was put out only to be put on after the shootings.

PREMIUM TIMES reported what the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa said. It was said that the Army was not aware of the shooting and killings at the Tollgate. But this is undoubtedly false as there were videos that have gone viral on the social media platforms.

President Buhari seemed so concerend when the political crisis in Mali came up but disconnected himself from Nigeria’s own. This is something happening right under his nose but he is silent about the whole thing. Can we say the present leaders are unwilling to answer questions posed to them by the supposed leaders of tomorrow? Why is the President silent at a time like this? Almost every Nigerians and countries around the World wanted to hear him speak but he was silent.

Police Reform

They wanted a reformed police Force but the same men and officer of the Force are reportedly shooting at sight. This men act like they are at war with the protesters. Can the President address the nation to douse this very high tension and reduce the fatalities across the country. How many people will have to die before the President and Presidency understands? What the protesters asked was not too much to ask for a genuinely reformed Nigerian Police Force?

However, it is best to advise the EndSARS protesters to suspend their campaign on the streets. They should think of how to ensure that hoodlums do not take advantage of their protests. to launch attacks that might be later blamed on the #EndSARS protesters.