Our Readers Reflect on the #EndSARS Protests

If the government we have elected to safeguard our lives and property won’t put an end to police brutality, who will? Read more.

Written by The Republic

Feb 3, 2021

Fists up at the ENDSARS protests. AYANFE OLARINDE / UNSPLASH.

Last year in October, young people from across Nigeria joined protests against police brutality under the banner of #EndSARS. The outcry which gained global attention culminated in shootings, most notably at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, of young unarmed protesters by law enforcement officers.

Recently, we asked our readers to reflect on the protests and its aftermath. Below are some of their responses:

Daniel Whyte. Abuja, Nigeria

Although the #EndSARS protests have been recurring for about three years, nothing significant has been done to truly put an end to the rampant and wanton brutality which SARS metes out to Nigerian youths.

It was on Friday, 9 October 2020. I was taking a night stroll after sitting all day working remotely. My earpiece plugged in while listening intermittently to ‘Abule’, (Three, 2020) by Patoranking and ‘Friday Feeling’ (Apollo, 2020) by Fireboy. Suddenly, my immediate elder sister called me and asked my whereabouts. ‘Why are you asking?’ I responded. She didn’t answer but insisted that I answer her question. When she wouldn’t relent, I told her not to worry, I was already coming back home. ‘Okay o. Be careful. There is #EndSARS in town,’ she said and hung the call.

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Our Readers Reflect on the #EndSARS Protests