What Happened to the #EndSARS Generation?

With the #EndSARS movement and the eventual Lekki Massacre in October 2020, the realization that the lives of ordinary Nigerians could be snuffed out simply for demanding a better country transformed migration from an option for a better life into a perceived necessity for survival.

No one would have thought that what began as a Twitter (now known as X) hashtag would morph into a nationwide street demonstration, characterized by candlelight vigils, chants and ultimately a tragic incident at the Lekki Toll Gate. The rude aftershocks continue to ripple through the nation’s memory, leaving a lingering twitch in its economic fabric.  

The protesters’ demands were simple: to disband the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit of the Nigeria Police Force established in 1992 to tackle the growing rate of armed robbery. Their demands soon evolved into a widespread cry for good governance, accountability and the entrenchment of democratic principles in Nigeria.

The #EndSARS protest became more than a movement against police brutality, morphing into an outlet for decades of pent-up dissatisfaction, anger and hunger for a better society. It marked a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s history; a moment where the collective voices of the youth became a resounding roar and their energized chants drew the world’s attention. A moment where the candlelight of hope was lit in the dark passages of despondent hearts, with a belief that the nation’s much-needed change was finally close.  

In 2017, former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, rightly observed that Africa was sitting on a keg of gunpowder when it came to the youth, and the #EndSARS protest validated this. Between the 7 and 20 October 2020, the demonstrations spread like wildfire across many Nigerian states. Lagos became the movement’s heartbeat, with all roads leading to the Lekki Toll Gate, its central hub. There, thousands gathered, chanting with one voice, one song and one desire: change... 

This story features in our special issue commemorating the fifth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests. Subscribe to The Republic to read the stories that keep #EndSARS alive.