Opinion
#EndSARSMemorial: Nigeria’s Uphill Battle Against Police Brutality by Bright Okuta
I had initially planned to write this article in July 2023 in light of the planned mass burial for 103 #EndSARS casualties by the Lagos State Government. However, I decided that it was more fitting to write it today in commemoration of the 3rd anniversary of the Lekki Tollgate shootings.
The aftermath of the #EndSARS protests triggered the dissolution of the infamous Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit of the Nigeria Police Force notorious for extortion, illegal arrests, extra-judicial killings, and general human rights abuse.
It triggered a proposed additional police reforms and the establishment of a judicial panel of inquiry to investigate the shootings at the Lekki Toll Gate on the night of October 20, 2020.
Three years later, what has changed?
On Christmas Day, December 25, 2022, a pregnant lawyer, Omobolanle Raheem, was shot dead in front of her husband and children by a police officer conducting a routine stop and search operation under Ajah Bridge in Lagos State.
On January 7, 2023, a police officer shot and killed two unarmed teenagers in Tudun Matawalle Sabuwar Unguwa are of Katsina state. Three youths sustained injuries.
On January 11, 2023, police officers stationed at Ilasan Palace, Lekki Phase 1, were recorded on camera assaulting a woman.
On April 6, 2023, a police officer killed a middle-aged businessman, Emmanuel Onyeka. According to reports, he refused to offer the officer a N100 bribe at a checkpoint.
These are a few cases between December 2022 and April 2023. There are numerous cases between November 2020 and September 2023.
These incidents showed that the same atrocities Nigerians protested against have gone a notch higher. Despite the assurance of reform, reports of this wickedness from the police have persisted, signaling a disheartening continuation of the deeply entrenched issues within the Force.
Cases of excessive use of force, unlawful arrests on the streets, illegal stop and search, and extortion have underscored the struggle faced by civilians, perpetuating a climate of fear and mistrust amongst the citizens.
For the umpteenth time, there is an urgent need for comprehensive and systemic reforms to ensure the protection of lives and property. It’s the responsibility of the security forces to protect the lives of citizens not the other way round.
As Nigeria grapples with these persistent challenges, the call for meaningful, sustainable, and intentional change within the Nigerian police force remains a critical and pressing demand.
Today, as we remember this tragic incident, we pay tribute to the bravery and resilience of Nigerian youth, who stood united in their quest for social justice and the fight against police brutality. Their unwavering determination and courage continue to inspire Nigerians toward justice, serving as a reminder that the fight for human rights and dignity is a collective responsibility that transcends borders and ideologies.
May the sacrifices made during the #EndSARS movement never be forgotten, serving as a catalyst for sustained advocacy and action toward a Nigeria where every individual can live free from fear and oppression by the police, and where justice and equality prevail.
