#ENDSARS: Did SARS Really End?

Erioluwa Adura, Dauda Mistura

The clamour to put an end to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad section of the police force didn't start last year. It did not even start a year before the last. The clamour has been as loud as a gong since 2016. The clamour was not basically to stop the police arm from working. It was basically to stop police brutality which was championed by  the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS.

Last year, 20th of October 2020, amidst the novel Corona Virus, the Nigerian youths stormed the Lekki Tollgate to hold an unusual peaceful protest. What should a peaceful suggest? Teenagers, youths, young adults, adults, went to the Lekki Tollgate with flags in their hands with guns or bullets; holding hands and singing solidarity songs without fighting or prompting issues. Even at that, innocent Nigerians still died with the flags in their hands. 

 The incident that took place at the Lekki Tollgate around this time last year could have been said to have marked the end of one of the greatest protests in Nigeria's history. But, unfortunately, it didn't. Protest would come after protest till there's a change.

Nigeria youths gathered in exceptional unity, irrespective of tribe, clan, language or status, colour or temperament. They requested for an end to the toxic Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) that has tortured and tormented the Nigerian youths for a long time.

This day marked the end of the #ENDSARS protest when alleged Nigerian army troops match towards the Lekki tollgate and shot sporadically at peaceful protesters. 

The soldiers shot both live and blank bullets. Indeed the Nigerian army assembled and shot innocent citizens they swore to protect.

Even after a year there are still many unanswered questions like where is the notorious CSP James Nwafor? The former leader of the now-disbanded Akwuzu sars in Anambra. A lot of extrajudicial killings happened under his watch and till now there is still no prosecution against this ex-officer. 

Oyo state’s governor, Seyi Makinde, promised to investigate and bring the killer of Jimoh Isiaq to book. 

This leads to the next question where is Jimoh Isiaq's killer? Jimoh isiaq until he met his doom, he was a student of Ladoke Akintola University, an innocent bystander who was shot by police officers attempting to disband the protest on Saturday 10th October 2020, in Ogbomosho, and up till this moment, Jimoh Isiaq’s killer hasn’t been found.

Few days after the shooting incident, Former Governor and current minister of works and infrastructure Babatunde Raji Fashola found a camcorder at the Lekki tollgate. An important tool that may contain evidence that can aid the discovevery of what happened on the night of the Killing. Unfortunately, the content of the camcorder hasn’t been released to the public even after a year.

Now to the question that still plaguing everyone. Who ordered the shooting? The army has admitted to the shooting but who gave the order?  Who masterminded the killing of innocent, unarmed protesters who were waving Nigerian flags in solidarity only for it to end in bloodshed?

20th of October 2020 remains an unforgettable day in Nigeria’s history and for justice to be served these questions need to be answered. 

Nevertheless, has police brutality stopped in your area? Do the police still harass youth in your area? As a youth can you drive your car freely at night? Are you safe with a policeman? Is the police  really your friend? 

Did the EndSars protest  put an end to the brutal treatment of the  SARS? It is obvious that the disposition of our police never changed. As a youth, you are not safe in your motherland neither are you safe in a foreign land because you are black. 

After 365 days, we are faced with the same old topic. Does protest change the scope of things in a government? Yes! It does. That's if we don't relent. That's if we don't let our guards down. We believe in a Nigeria that works for all. We are the change our children would be proud of. We would give up on Nigeria. We would give up on our heroes past. We would shine through. 

We indeed are the _SoroSoke_ generation, Our voices need to be heard.