Nigeria Is In Our Hands
A police officer’s job has always been to protect and serve the people. What occurs when a police officer who swore to protect us from harm ends up being the one to cause us pain? Police brutality is not an issue to shy away from, but preferably, attack with full force. When the entire world comes united, anything is possible, including ending SARS.
Background
The Nigerian Police Force was first created in 1820. In 1930, all the police forces came together to form the first national police force. The obligation of the Nigeria Police Force was anti-robbery. Countless specialized units were created at various times under distinctive names to tackle the rising crime succeeding the Nigerian civil war in 1970. In the ’90s, armed criminals were taking over parts of southern Nigeria. Officer Simeon Midenda was the head of the anti-robbery unit of the criminal investigation department. As crime continued to soar in Lagos, Officer Midenda had to combine three anti-robbery teams to create one tenacious squad to take control over the gangs. The unit included 15 officers and two station wagons. This vigorous unit was named the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) by 1992.
When the unit was launching, SARS officers operated undercover in regular clothes and plain vehicles without any government ID nor weapons. Their goal was to oversee radio communications and conduct arrests for criminals, including armed robbers. Despite this, these officers possess a history of killing and torturing innocent Nigerians, and have been reported of maintaining police brutality through law implementation agencies in Nigeria. Human rights institutions, such as Amnesty International, have been attempting to bring to light the registered records of SARS since the ’90s.
#EndSARS Movement Grows
In 2015, the authorities organized a Compliant Response Unit conceding accusations from the public for the police units to be addressed. Yet, no SARS officer has been found guilty for murder, unlawful arrests, nor torment. By 2016, Amnesty International had recorded 82 situations of persecution, corruption and extrajudicial murders by SARS. The victims were adolescent men who were arrested for experiencing regular young adult life. Countless Nigerians were fed up with the abuse by SARS officers, so they created a social media crusade to chronicle the inhumanity of the unit. By the end of 2017, the hashtag #EndSARS took off. The government proceeded to create false hope from 2017 to 2018 by ordering the reconstruction of the SARS units, even as the accusations continued.
The Nigerian police motto is known as “The police is your friend.” It has evolved into an embarrassment for the department, as well as the government. Nigerians have grown tired of the infinite broken promises of change. “The police are double-sided, saying one thing to the public and another to their victims”, said a protester. Those protesting believe slapping on a new name with new officers, and speaking about change is not enough. Words have to translate into actions, or else the cycle will continue. The protests show no sign of stopping, as tens of thousands of people worldwide fight a battle as old as time.
#EndSARS movement has gathered awareness worldwide, including figures such as Kanye West, Jack Dorsey, Naomi Campbell, and myriad others who have expressed their support through protests, donations, and speaking out. Beyoncé has collaborated with coalitions to render emergency medical care, food and shelter. Rihanna even affirmed that “My heart is broken for Nigeria man!! It is unbearable to watch. I’m so proud of your strength and not letting up on the fight for what’s right! #EndSARS”. If people from around the world are showcasing their support for our fellow brothers and sisters, why can’t you?
Ways to help:
- Stay up-to-date
It is crucial to be kept up to speed because the internet holds hills filled with truth and valleys overflowed with misinformation. Always double-check your sources before you go ahead and spread the information to make sure you are meticulously informed. Follow the materials with #EndSARS since most sources should be creditable. Numerous videos are enumerating the movement, and there is a website containing Nigeria’s minority’s inhuman acquaintances with the police. Check out Amnesty International Nigeria for updates from the fight first hand and the Feminist Coalition who are a group of Nigerian women who are striving for gender equality while implementing legal aid and food amid each protest.
2. Allow your voice to be heard
In 2017, the hashtag, #EndSARS went viral, and thousands of Nigerians on social media sparked the battle. This granted Nigeria to grab ahold of the world’s attention about the ferocious impact of police brutality in the “Giant of Africa.” If you want to assist with this human rights violation, then make flyers, share websites and post credible information across all your social media platforms, talk to others, including your family and your mayor, allowing you to see how you can get involved and continue to spread the message. If you can join a protest, be loud and clear.
3. Contribute what you can
Whoever said that one person can make a difference was right. Even if you give $10, those are two dollars going to contribute food, two dollars to replenish water, two dollars to provide medical equipment, two dollars for lawyers, and two dollars toward security. If everyone supplies $10, then the money begins to add up, enabling the protesters to advance their fight for equality. The funds allow for food, water, masks and medical supplies to be provided for the protesters.
We Are All In This Together
Police brutality transpires throughout the world. Whether it’s Kenya with officers that accept bribes, Brazil with the death squads, Pakistan with the innocent being tortured, or El Salvador with extrajudicial murders, it is up to the younger generations to change the world. If we proceed to allow police officers to elicit, shoot or illegally detain a civilian without a problem, this will continue normalizing police brutality. Every single human deserves to be treated equally and fairly. We all must speak up, or the past will take over the future.
