While we must salute the conscious efforts of the honest Nigerian youths who sought to make a change for the better good of all, we must also agree that it is the constitutional rights of citizens to have a peaceful rally or gathering. However, we must bear it in mind that history has taught us that many of the movements always metamorphose to a rowdy affair and become disruptive leading to narratives which speak no good.
October 20, 2020 is a date that will be forever entrenched on the national pages of this great nation, the #EndSARS campaign might have come and gone, however we cannot deny that it is an event which will continue to linger on in the minds of the majority.
The #EndSARS campaign started with the publication of a petition. It was signed by 10,195 Nigerians and submitted to the Nigerian National Assembly to scrap the police unit. The Twitter campaign started on December 2, 2017, when a footage of cops attached to the unit shot and killed a man surfaced online. The campaign became a trending topic on Twitter with over 400,000 Tweets within 12 hours.
In October 2020, Nigerians started an online campaign to protest. Nigerians using 280 characters detailing their horrible and harrowing experiences with SARS, the dreaded unit of the police created to tackle robbery. Before the campaign, there have been isolated cases of police brutality all over the country. However, it was during the campaign that the damage caused by such brutality was discovered.
While we must salute the conscious efforts of the honest Nigerian youths who sought to make a change for the better good of all, we must also agree that it is the constitutional rights of citizens to have a peaceful rally or gathering. However, we must bear it in mind that history has taught us that many of the movements always metamorphose to a rowdy affair and become disruptive leading to narratives which speak no good.
Counting down to October 20, reports have it that Nigerian youths are planning a memorial protest at the Lekki Toll Gate. Based on this development, it is important that we take a critical look at the incident, consider its implications as well as the aftermath of the movement turned riot.
What began as a peaceful protest was eventually hijacked by hoodlums and this led to the loss of lives and wanton destruction of public property. Despite the presence of security agents and imposition of curfew in the state, the hoodlums carried out their actions unchecked. Many buildings were burnt, with property destroyed and looted.
According to the then spokesperson for the Lagos police, Muyiwa Adejobi, about 17 police stations were burnt by hoodlums in the state.
These stations included those in Idimu, Igando, Layeni, Denton, Ilenbe Hausa, Ajah, Amukoko, Ilasa, Cele Outpost under Ijesa, disbanded SARS office under Ajegunle, Ebute-Ero, Mushin (Olosan), Ojo, Ajegunle, Ikotun, and Ojodu. Property found within the premises of the police stations, including vehicles, destroyed, valuables, including weapons, were carted away by the criminals.
The oldest court in Nigeria, the Federal High Court at Igbosere, Lagos was also razed down by the hoodlums. Valuables, including desktop computers, air conditioners, refrigerators, chairs and others were also carted away by the hoodlums.
Also, the palace of the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, was also attacked during the violence. The governor’s family house was also torched while the headquarters of Television Continental was also burnt. The hoodlums extended their attacks to the Lagos State bus terminals at Oyingbo, Yaba and Berger. Several buses at the Oyingbo terminus were set ablaze, while some parts of Yaba and Berger bus terminals were torched by the criminals.
Mutiu Yekeen who is the Head of Corporate Communications, Primero Transport Services Ltd, owners of BRT Buses, said the company lost over N100m in six days arising from the protest, which has had the nation’s economic capital ravaged, while the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry disclosed that Nigeria lost a huge amount in economic value since the #EndSARS protests started.
The economic loss suffered by Lagos State and Nigeria at large cannot be fully quantified, and we cannot afford to have a similar experience again. The nation is at a critical time of rebuilding and we need to collectively protect and preserve our assets. The governor of Lagos State must be commended for the proactive steps taken by him to address the situation, restoring normalcy and rebuilding the state economy. This is a visible trait of a governor who will never allow any setback to discourage him from fulfilling his mandate.
Even as the youth intend to celebrate a memorial in honour of those who died in the struggle, history has shown us that even the most honest and pure of intentions can be hijacked by unscrupulous elements. The #EndSARS protest started as a genuine and progressive movement, but it was soiled by hoodlums. Also the youth need to be cautious so that no death will be recorded again. Lives are irreplaceable and they must by all means ensure that they guide themselves and their activities against any and every factor that may militate against peace in our society.
Nigeria is ours, and in our drive to push for a better narrative, we must be careful so that we do not fall victims to the traps.
Femi Adeniyi
princfemmy2001@gmail.com
