The annals of Nigeria’s history of protests and civil resistance cannot be fully recounted without the pivotal chapter of the EndSARS movement. Whi
The annals of Nigeria’s history of protests and civil resistance cannot be fully recounted without the pivotal chapter of the EndSARS movement.
While the protests against the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election—presumed to have been won by the late Bashorun MKO Abiola—stand as a defining moment in the nation’s struggle for democracy, the EndSARS protests of 2020 emerged as another seismic event that shook the very foundations of the country.
This movement, driven by the youth, was a resounding cry against systemic police brutality, particularly the atrocities committed by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). It was a moment that crystallized the collective anguish and frustration of a generation.
The catalyst for the protests was the brutal killing of a young man in Edo State by law enforcement officers, an incident that ignited a firestorm of outrage across the nation. What began as a localized outcry swiftly evolved into a nationwide movement, fueled by the relentless efforts of young activists, particularly in the southwestern region.
The protests, which initially sought to dismantle the oppressive machinery of the police force, soon expanded to encompass broader demands for governance reform, accountability, and justice.
For days, the protests spread like wildfire, transcending state boundaries and uniting Nigerians from all walks of life. They were largely peaceful, characterized by a spirit of solidarity and resilience. However, the introduction of counter-protesters, allegedly orchestrated to disrupt the movement, marked a turning point.
Despite these challenges, the demonstrations persisted, with Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos emerging as a symbolic epicenter of the struggle.
Day after day, throngs of young Nigerians gathered at the toll gate, their voices amplified by musicians, their resolve strengthened by the communal provision of food, drinks, and financial support from various groups.
The trajectory of the protests took a grim turn when the federal government, in a bid to quell the unrest, imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew.
On the evening of October 20, 2020, soldiers from Dodan Barracks descended upon the Lekki Toll Gate, dispersing the crowd in a manner that remains shrouded in controversy.
The events of that night, the subject of intense debate and investigation, sparked a chain reaction of chaos and destruction across Lagos the following day. Public institutions were set ablaze, and the city was plunged into turmoil, a tragic aftermath of the military’s intervention.
In his reflections on the EndSARS protests, Bisi Akande, a respected elder statesman, posited that the movement was orchestrated to thwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential ambitions.
While I hold Baba Akande in high esteem, I must respectfully dissent from this interpretation. To reduce the EndSARS protests—a profound and organic expression of collective grievance against police brutality—to a mere political maneuver is to distort its essence.
The destruction that followed, while undeniably collateral, cannot be simplistically attributed to a single group or agenda. Such a narrative risks erasing the legitimate aspirations of a generation that dared to demand justice and accountability.
History, as the ultimate arbiter, will judge us harshly if we diminish the significance of the EndSARS movement by framing it as a politically motivated scheme.
It was, and remains, a testament to the power of collective action, a clarion call for a more just and equitable society. To honor its legacy, we must resist the temptation to rewrite its story through the lens of partisan interests.
The struggle against police brutality and systemic oppression is a chapter in our history that deserves to be remembered with clarity, integrity, and respect.
Adewale Babalola, a businessman and chartered accountant writes from Lagos
