#ENDSARS Protests Turn Ugly as More Celebrities Voice Support
The #ENDSARS protests in Nigeria don’t seem to be dying down, despite the government disbanding the Squad on 11 October 2020. In what could likely be the new low, rights group Amnesty International has reportedly raised concern over the ‘escalating violence’ meted on the protests across the country.
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Millions of Nigerians continue taking to the streets, and to social media under the hashtag #ENDSARS, protesting against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a branch of the Nigeria Police Force. Even as the demonstrations against the alleged brutality by the group escalate, more casualties are being reported by local media.
Reports of armed thugs attacking protesters in the capital, Lagos, and the military opening fire on peaceful protestors signify that the campaigns could be turning ugly. As reported by Sky News, the police allegedly shot at demonstrators in the city’s Lekki suburb on Tuesday, sparking anger amongst its supporters on social media.
In the northern state of Kano, the death of a 17-year-old teenager at the hands of the police has sparked even more protests. Both Benin City and the Edo state government have declared an indefinite curfew in light of reported attacks and vandalism.
Protests against brutality, harassment, and murder
SARS, formed during the 1984 military rule, has long been accused of extortion, torture, and murder. However, it was not until just recently that a series of videos of individuals allegedly being killed by police surfaced online.
Immediately after the videos, the campaign gained fame with Nigerians creating shockwaves on Twitter with #ENDSARS trending for days. The government finally gave in and disbanded the notorious group.
But the disbandment, according to the protestors, isn’t enough and has since morphed into calls for wider reforms in the government. Already, there’s a 24-hour curfew on the 20 million people who live in Lagos, the heartbeat of the protests. Despite the restrictions, the protests show little sign of slowing down.
Lots of local and international celebrities have joined a growing list in support of the protests. The list includes Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, artists Diddy, Kanye West, Trey Songz, Tiwa Savage, Widkid, and Davido, and others.
Sports superstars led by Mesut Ozil, Marcus Rashford, and countless Nigerian internationals have also been at the forefront, voicing their support for the demonstrations.
The latest hashtags, #EndBadGovernance, #BetterNigeria, and #FixNigeriaNow, and a series of diaspora protests in Canada, England, Germany and the United States signifies a new twist. It remains to be seen how the protests will go.
Meanwhile, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has promised comprehensive reform and compensation to victims of the brutality.
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