Today’s post is quite a lot. I know it been a minute since I have created new content, but believe when I tell you that life is a lot right now. Getting through my senior year during a pandemic is not easy ooo. “Professors are apologizing for troubling times yet are the cause of my troublings”. As well as trying to think of post-grad options, it’s a little too much. Yet, with all of this being thrown at me; I knew I had to take out time to talk about what is currently going on in Nigeria.
Many of you have probably seen what is happening on social media. Probably seen the gruesome videos and photos of killings and torture, but for those of you who do not know what is happening here is a quick breakdown of the #ENDSARS hashtag that has been sweeping across the globe.
Little breakdown on SARS
SARS (Special Anti-Robery Unit) has been around since 1992. Its purpose was to combat criminal activities such as fraud, theft, etc. This was a team that started off pretty small and anonymous. As years passed the team grew into a multitudinous unit that acquired their own notoriety for criminal activity. They are known for profiling young Nigerians as criminals based on their appearance such as having dreads, piercings, or even carrying electronics. Imagine walking down the street with just an iPhone and police stop you and accuse you of internet fraud. They rummage through your belongings and invade your privacy because to them there is no way you can actually WORK for your money. This is the reality for a lot of Nigerians living in major cities such as Lagos. Other crimes they have been associated with are extrajudicial killings, bribery, exploitation, and rape.
The aftermath
SARS didnt just pop out of nowhere. This is a team that has been around since the 90s. Way before social media was even as big as it is now. With phones and the internet, we are able to witness brutal acts that in the past would have been covered up. As someone who is Nigerian living in America these videos of inhumanity is like a never-ending nightmare.
In the beginning of the year and throughout quarantine, black people have witnessed the loss of numerous African Americans fighting for the right to live equally in America. Horrendous videos circulated throughout the globe showing police and white supremacist hunting down African Americans like animals, running over civilians during peaceful protests, tear-gassing and viciously beating up protestors. All criminal acts, but acceptable under the guise that they are “protecting” us. We spend months protesting, marching across the nation for our voices to be heard. That black lives matter. The situation in Nigeria is nothing different. Videos that are too graphic for me to even post on here are flooding my timeline. Peoples’ husbands, wives, brothers, and sisters are dying brutally all for the chance to live in peace. We have to show that the people who lost their lives for this cause did not die in vain.
Why is this happening ?
This type of police brutality is not rooted in racial structures like America. Nigeria’s problems far surpass one police force unit, surpasses the political leaders themselves, and goes back to colonialism. Colonialism left Nigeria broken and struggling to recover ever since. Nigeria is a country-driven by greed, corruption, and hunger for power. Our so-called leaders only investing in their own wealth instead of their citizens. You can disband SARS but it won’t wash away the blood and filth that is ingrained in Nigeria. How can you change something that has been the status quo for years? That is a hard question. But it starts with our progressiveness and refusal to be complacent in injustice.
Ways to make a change
The best way we can fight is by NOT relying on our elders who adhere to the traditional ways that have lead to the demise of Nigeria. The only way to do this is to rely on ourselves. We are the change! We must share information, donate, protest, and fight against the violence. Use your platform no matter how small or big to spread awareness. Please never think your voice or repost doesn’t matter because it does!
Search up local protest areas through social media platforms
Donation links:
https://donatebtc.feministcoalition2020.com/
https://dashboard.flutterwave.com/donate/o4xphilav1ct
https://www.gofundme.com/f/supportendsars
Petitions
It’s because of our voices and social media that this has even been as big as it is. This is not just a disregard for Nigerian people but also a disregard for human life and we can not sit and take this anymore. When I look around Nigerians are everywhere making an impact all over the world. This new generation has the ability to make a change in Nigeria itself.
Remember: Emeka Onovo, Chibuike Anams, Christian Onuigbo, Chika Ibeku, Gabriel Owoicho, Harry Ataria, Chijioke Iloanya, Oke, Peaceful protestors on Lekki Bridge on 10/2/20, people that have died at the hands of SARS.
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