What's Happening in Nigeria? #EndSARS #SARSMUSTGO
A few days ago, I was talking to my parents and I asked them if they knew about what’s going on with SARS in Nigeria. When I realized they didn’t know, I was a bit confused especially considering the number of posts I was seeing online. My dad even keeps up with Nigerian news, so how was it that they didn’t know? As I was online more, I discovered that it wasn’t really being covered by Nigerian media and found that to be odd, but not..really surprising. Something my sister has been saying a lot recently is, “I am convinced not everyone is getting the same news/information” and while she was talking about coronavirus and US elections, the same thing can be applied here. I don’t know everything about this issue, but I wanted to share as much as I can, in hopes that it will help you get an understanding, if you’re unaware, motivate you to find out more on this, and also call you to do your part, if you feel so led. If you’re in the US, you can think about this in a similar way that we’ve spoken about police brutality in the US especially this summer, and just put it in Nigeria.
SARS is the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Nigeria. They’re a branch of the Nigerian Police Force that doesn’t wear badges or uniforms and they were designed to fight kidnapping, banditry, and other crimes alike. As SARS continued, it started to become something a bit different. They began targeting innocent young people across Nigeria. My cousin described it to me like this: “SARS carries out extrajudicial killings, detain people without proper trials, some are in prison from months to years without trials. They have a station in Abuja called “Abbatoir” and “Akwuzu SARS” in Imo state. These are places where victims are killed and their bodies dumped in sewages and canals. They also extort money out of people, they go around with POS machines or drive you to an ATM to withdraw all your cash. They search your phone without any court order and accuse you of being an internet fraudster especially if, as a young person, you drive an expensive car.” They also look for youth with locs, tattoos, piercings, expensive clothing, iPhones, you see where I’m going with this? This is not a new thing, but it is something that has become more rampant recently. At the beginning of the month, the hashtag #EndSARS began trending again, when a video of a young man in Delta State was shot by SARS went viral (The video has now been dismissed and according to the Delta State police the video was…false). Yesterday, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) announced that SARS has now been dissolved effective immediately. This is cool, but when we look into the details of it, it’s still not making much sense. Basically, their solution to redeploy the people that were in SARS into other spaces in the Police Force and a new solution will replace SARS. So many people think that the fight is over, but honestly, it’s just the beginning (here’s a list of demands #5for5).
Protests started last week, with celebrities in Nigeria joining in as well. Some celebrities in other countries have used their social media to bring awareness to the issue who and even Nigerians in the diaspora holding their own protests in their respective countries/states. SARS is supposedly dissolved, but even today they are still out on the streets harassing, shooting at, arresting, and even killing/injuring protestors. And people in leadership have not been addressing these issues to the liking of those who are participating. Even Nigerian news has been very funny about how, if even, the information is being broadcasted, so people have decided to go to other news outlets such as CNN, Al Jazeera, BBC, and others so the news can be spread worldwide. Young people in Nigeria are not just fighting for SARS to end completely, they’re fighting for more: the end to police brutality, the end to the targeting, for leadership to acknowledge this major issue and put their demands in place, and most importantly for a better Nigeria.
There are so many things wrong in this whole matter, but one thing that I have loved seeing (through social media) is how this is causing young people to come together and fight for this. People are on the ground protesting, lawyers are ready to help those who have been arrested, companies are donating resources, people are donating money to bail out protestors and pay for any hospital fees, and people are raising awareness online. People in Abuja and other cities are even doing prayer walks to cry unto the Lord concerning this matter. While the cause of this is horrible, the way people have come to fight on all fronts has been amazing to see. There really is a place for everyone who is ready to help in any way possible.
Remember that activism takes many forms, so if you’re ready, willing, and able to participate there will always be a space for you. And every single role is just as important and necessary as the other. If you can help by educating others and raising awareness, do that. If you can help by assisting protestors, do that! I ask that you at least pray for Nigeria concerning this issue. Pray for the wisdom of its leaders, the strength of its youth, for peace and comfort for those who have been directly affected by SARS’ misconduct, and that God will hear the cries of His people and honor their requests to put an end to this matter.
If you’re interested in more beyond this post, here are a few links:
END SARS CARRD (information on protests, donation links, volunteer opportunities, and more)
Flutterwave Donation Page (Donation to protestors’ resources- food, medical bills, legal help)*
Here are a few accounts that have been giving updates on the protests and issues concerning protestors (legal, medical, etc):
End SARS Response Unit, a page for those looking for volunteer resource support
Feyikemi, 1/2 of I Said What I Said Podcast, connecting people with legal and medical aid
Feminist Coalition, a group of Nigerian feminists fighting against the injustice of SARS
Here’s their website that also gives info/ways to help
Here’s a WhatsApp broadcast to send to your contacts from FC
When you put on your next prayer-performance, I’ll be looking the other way. No matter how long or loud or often you pray, I’ll not be listening. And do you know why? Because you’ve been tearing people to pieces, and your hands are bloody. Go home and wash up. Clean up your act. Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings so I don’t have to look at them any longer. Say no to wrong. Learn to do good. Work for justice. Help the down-and-out. Stand up for the homeless. Go to bat for the defenseless. (Isaiah 1:15-17, MSG)
But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream. (Amos 5:24, NKJV)
Much love always,
Kumam 💛
*As of this morning (10/13/20), the Flutterwave link is down. If the link begins working again, I will update it. While it is down, Feminist Co and Feyikemi have given other options to donate:
To send money directly to a protestors support account: