Staying Informed: What’s Going on in Nigeria?
By Mary Kaitlin Enright
As many of us have heard throughout the past year, staying informed about what is going on in our world is more crucial than ever before. Whether it's a political, economic, social, humanitarian, or another aspect of our country or another country that is in crisis, we should care. And to care, we need to know what’s going on. And right now, Nigeria needs our care.
What’s Going on in Nigeria?
Nigeria is presently experiencing a crisis of police brutality protests, which have been occurring since early October. After a video was released that showed a man being brutally beaten by police officers from the Nigerian Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), young Nigerians took to the streets to peacefully protest behind the hashtag #EndSARS.
This is not the first indication that the SARS officers have committed and continue to commit violent harassment and abuses of power. Created in 1992 for the purpose of reducing robbery and firearm-based crime, the SARS has been accused before of links to human rights violations and illegal acts. Amnesty International supports this claim, and released a report that suggested that SARS could be connected to at least 82 cases of torture and unlawful killings between 2017 and 2020.
Following the posting of the video, the resulting wave of weeks worth of protests across the country is the largest display of power that Nigerians have displayed in recent years. Led primarily by young members of society, the protests are similar to many of the human rights protests led by young members of other countries demanding change around the world.
How has the government responded?
In response to the protests, President Muhammadu Buhari disbanded SARS on October 11th. However, this did not appease protesters, who did not believe that the announcement was based in true intentions. Considering the trust issue that Nigerian people already have with their government due to a “habit of telling but not showing,” including the fact that SARS has already been “disbanded” three times in the past, only to re-emerge, (Refinery 29), this response was not necessarily surprising. And so, the protesters continued to make their voices heard, in order to ensure that true action was taken on the part of their government.
On October 15th, the president made an address asking protesters to step down. Yet, he made no mention of the intentions behind his message in the case that the protesters chose not to step down, which they didn’t. What ensued was tragedy.
How did things escalate?
Hundreds of protesters gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate (in an upscale town in Nigeria which had become a regular meeting point for the protests) on the evening of October 20th. Suddenly, the lights went out in the streets, and within half an hour, Nigerian soldiers had emerged, armed and prepared to face the scene. According to witnesses, they fired live rounds at the unarmed protesters singing the Nigerian national anthem in unison, leaving several dead (at least 10, as confirmed by Amnesty International). Based on the calculated sudden electric shut-down at that very location, and witnesses further indicating that security cameras were disconnected for the time of the event, many conspire that the Nigerian government had a hand in the premeditation of the event.
Now what?
Regardless of the details of what occurred that night, many of which cannot be proven for certain without evidence, what is known is that major human rights abuse and violation occurred that evening. And it seems to be that this would not be the first time, as is implied by Refinery 29 in their article on the crisis. The Nigerian people are choosing not to step down, but instead to stand tall, in unison with protesters that were lost in the massacre on the 20th against the government. They have taken not only to continued peaceful protests, but also to social media, to make their statement known and to seek support.
Where does the United States stand?
As an ally of the United States, Nigeria is an important member of the country’s network. That makes this issue something to which the U.S. must respond. And they did. The U.S. released a statement (as did the U.K., the EU, and other allies) condemning the “incidents of military forced firing on unarmed protesters in Lagos.” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo continued, “Those involved should be held to account under the law.” And so, the cries of the Nigeran people for international support are being heard, and hopefully, will be fulfilled with the necessary justice-driven action.
Okay, but what does this have to do with me?
Everything. As members of a free and democratic country, we in the United States can often take for granted our right to protest, and to find support in our government as best we can. Yet, as we have seen in our own country over the past few months regarding protests very similar to those in Nigeria, sometimes protests do not go as planned, and tragedy occurs as a result.
As Nigeria and its people call for reform and accountability, it is our responsibility to do what we can to affirm those calls, educate ourselves, and find ways to lend them our care and support. Get involved in the movement exploding across social media (look out for the #EndSARS hashtag on multiple platforms, most notably Twitter), inform yourself on the issues at hand (articles listed below), and show your support however you can: by donating, voicing your opinion, and informing others.
This is the way that we can care for those who need us. Here are a few places to start:
Informing Yourself
Independent: Nigeria: What is SARS and why are people protesting against police?
Refinery 29: How To Ruin A Democracy: Why We Must Pay Attention To What’s Happening In Nigeria
AFP News Agency: Video Testimonies from Injured Oct. 20th Demonstrators (Twitter)
Ways to Help
