Aisha Yesufu, has warned corrupt politicians in Nigeria frustrating the masses stressing that their unpatriotic actions can lead to another nationwide protest worse than #EndSARS.
By Emma Ogbuehi
Popular socio-political activist, Aisha Yesufu, has warned corrupt politicians in Nigeria frustrating the masses stressing that their unpatriotic actions can lead to another nationwide protest worse than #EndSARS.
Yesufu said the anger burning in the hearts of Nigerians may snowball to another protest hotter than the one experienced in 2020 tagged ‘End SARS’.
In 2020, Nigerians staged demonstrations across the nation to call for the end of the police unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), notorious for brutalising youths.
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The protest, which started on Twitter, resulted in mass demonstrations occurring in all major cities of the country and accompanied violence, leading to the death of many young Nigerians after military personnel were present at Lekki Toll Gate, Lagos to shoot at peaceful protesters.
Yesufu, the co-convener of the BringBackOur Girls, who was one of the activists at the center of the protest, said Nigerians might just be caught unawares of another demonstration.
Vanguard quotes Ysufu as making the assertion via X account, arguing that, “Nobody saw the #EndSARS protest coming. Nobody will see the next uprising coming.”
“Sadly, it might end up being violent. There is a simmering anger fueled by the impunity and brazenness of the corrupt politicians and rulers who have rigged their way into power. Nobody will be spared.”
The #EndSARS protest, which morphed from social media campaigns into street demonstrations in October 2020, was triggered by the excesses of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a now-disbanded police tactical unit notorious for cruelty against crime suspects.
Although SARS activities and general issues of police brutality, including unlawful arrests, torture, and extrajudicial killings, were at its core, the protest became a platform for demanding government’s decisive action against insecurity, corruption, economic woes and general maladministration blamed for the suffering of the majority of Nigerians and lack of opportunities for the youth.
The organisers made a five-point demand as condition for ending the #EndSARS protests. These included compensations for the families of those who died under police brutality, the release of arrested protesters and an increase in the salaries and allowances of police officers.
Protesters also demanded that an independent body be set up to investigate allegations of police misconduct and to prosecute those indicted. They also called for the psychological evaluation of officers of the disbanded SARS before they are redeployed into other units.