End Sars Protests: Here's Why People In Nigeria Are Demonstrating
At least 11 people were shot dead and hundreds injured during widespread protests against police brutality in Nigeria on Tuesday night.
Thousands of predominantly young demonstrators marched through the streets for the eighty day running, bringing major cities to a standstill.
The perpetrators of violence were overwhelmingly the police themselves, and the matter has garnered international attention with public figures such as Beyonce, John Boyega, Rihanna and Hilary Clinton all calling for Nigeria’s government to immediately tackle this issue.
Meanwhile, the UK government is being lobbied for intervention by London-based Nigerians and allies.
So what’s it all about, and why is it happening now?
Amnesty International has received credible but disturbing evidence of excessive use of force occasioning deaths of protesters at Lekki toll gate in Lagos. #EndSARS#Lekki#Nigeria
— Amnesty International Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) October 20, 2020
What is the SARS?
The Sars – Special Anti-Robbery Squad – was a branch of the Nigerian Police Force created in 1992 to deal with crimes associated with robbery and firearm incidents.
However, the faction became known for its links to murders, torture and other illegal activities.
Amnesty International has reported cases of unlawful killings and police brutality allegedly perpetrated by the group over a number of years.
In June 2020, it released a report suggesting SARS officers continued to commit human rights violations, including at least 82 cases of torture, ill-treatment and extrajudicial execution between January 2017 and May 2020.
The report “reveals a pattern of abuse of power by SARS officers and the consistent failure by the Nigerian authorities to bring perpetrators to justice. It highlights the deficiencies in Nigerian police accountability that contribute to, and exacerbate, these violations,” Amnesty said.
What is the #endSARS movement?
Young demonstrators are leading the nationwide protests demanding an end to police...
