On October 10, 2020, following the massive protest rocking many Nigerian states, irate youths in Ikorodu joined the train to protest against police brutality. The protest which was led by popular music star, Q-dot Alagbe, started along the Itamaga Area of Ikorodu suburb around 10a.m in the morning. The youths chanted anti-police slogans with placards and lamented their dead ones who died in the hands of brutal cops in Ikorodu. They marched through the Ota-Ona road to the palace of the Ayangburen of Ikorodu to express their dissatisfaction with the police.
Speaking with the press, Q-dot said though, he was not the organiser of the protest, but he had to join his people of Ikorodu to show solidarity, adding that the SARS officials have become menace in the society for too long. In his words, the hip hop artists said he has to stand with his people against any form of societal ill. “Though, I met the organisers of the protest in Ikorodu, I had to join my people. I am not just from Ikorodu, I was born and raised in Ikorodu. I attended primary and secondary schools in Ikorodu and I have to show solidarity with my indigenous people.”
The hip-hop artist narrated his distasteful experiences with men of the Nigerian police force who patrol under the guise of SARS.
He explained that on several occasions, he was stopped and harassed by SARS operatives. “Sometimes, they would stop my car and search everything inside. On several occasions I have been harassed by SARS, they would search us and ask irrelevant questions, some of them would threaten you over your response.” Though, he wasn’t the only celebrity of Ikorodu descent, Q-dot happens to be the only artiste around during the protest. He said he wonder why most of the celebrities from Ikorodu were not present at the #Endsars protest, but he believed Zlatan Ibile whom he said is also from Ikorodu wasn’t town during the march.
Like every main town in Nigeria, youths and adults have being harassed by SARS operatives in Ikorodu. They became so brutal and hostile to the citizens and treated everyone like criminals. Anyone who meets SARS on the way will be scared to death for the fear of what these unruly policemen would do. Though, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad was established to handle cases of robbery attack and internet fraud, the men of this unit started preying on innocent citizens, particularly the youths, under the guise that they are looking for internet fraudsters popularly called Yahoo boys. They would stop any young boy or girl dressed in funky hairstyle and carrying a smart phone.
The SARS officials became notorious for stop-and-search operations on the street as they would look into contents of people’s phones and computers for traces of crime. When they can’t find any implicating link they become offensive by asking irrelevant questions all with the intent to accuse their victims of a crime.
At the slightest argument with youngsters during these stop-and-search exercise, some of the SARS men open fire on harmless civilians. They have shot and killed many youths in the society and all charges against them were suppressed by the policemen. The police unit who should be facing armed robbery cases became lords of Nigerian streets as they openly flaunt their guns and shot at civilians at the slightest provocation. They raid youths at bars, streets, and roadsides. To the SARS operatives, any young boy or girl driving a car is a criminal and they just approach you like a criminal.
The Yahoo boys they claimed to be going after became their regular business customers as they extorted money from them. One of the boys who narrated his ordeal with SARS said that after they searched his phones and saw cash transfer of few hundred thousand naira, the operatives threatened to shot him or he give up the cash in his account. They followed him to a nearby ATM and forced him to withdraw all the money in his bank account.
In the Federal Low-Cost Housing Estate, along Itoikin road, Sabo-Ikorodu, team of SARS operatives visit some streets to raid boys at least once in a month. They arrest any young boys walking by and take them away in commercial vehicles. The boys would be extorted on the way, anyone without cash to bail himself will end up in police cell with strange allegations. The men may claim they found hard drugs and weapons on the jailed youth. On one occasion, SARS invaded the estate on a wanton raiding exercise, they paraded three innocent boys by the gate. When publisher of the Oriwu Sun newspaper saw them, he approached the team leaded of the SARS and introduced himself to the officer as friend of the police. But the cop screamed at him and said the publisher should leave his presence before he opens fire at him. For fear of the gun he carried, the publisher did not argue with them but patiently trailed them to the Sagamu road police station. When they noticed that the publisher was entering the police yard, they released the boys and requested that he should not take the case up with their superiors in the station.
Just in the month of August 2020, a group of SARS operatives chased a boy driving along the Itamaga road. They drove and scared the guy with guns till he ran into electric pole and other cars across the Low-Cost gate. They arrested the driver, extorted money from him and made him pay for the damaged electric pole and cars affected during the chase. SARS brutality against the people and their nuisance have culminated into an intolerable menace where families lost children to these untamed police operatives. Some parents have been rendered childless by men of the SARS as they have killed youngsters during unwarranted stop-and-search exercises. The revolt against them started three weeks ago after some frustrated youths took to social media demanding for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad with the theme #ENDSARSNOW.
Many others who were affected joined the protest and organised a physical march to government offices. The protest escalated into a national demand and the international community took note of the social revolution going on in Nigeria.
The protest started gaining momentum after Nigerian celebrities lend their voices to end police brutality. Every area of major cities in Nigeria started marching to government offices demanding for the end of police brutality. Though the Nigerian president Muhammedu Buhari, was unperturbed about the protest for the first few days, things intensified as one of his daughters, Zahra Buhari, and daughter of the Vice President, Kiki Osibajo joined the youths in the protest. A popular female activist from northern Nigeria, Aisha Yesufu stood her ground and led a protest of the #Endsars movement in Abuja. She soon became an icon with her dramatic photo capturing her in actions. Surprisingly, the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike who initially banned protesters in his state, joined the protest.
President Muhammedu Buhari, feeling the pulse of the people, ordered his Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to disband SARS unit of the Nigerian Police Force. But the youths were not convinced as they continued to protest all around the country, demanding that the president address the nation on this peculiar demand. The tide of the protest is shifting to a complete police reformation. Many believe a holistic police reform is the only way to have good policing in Nigeria. Among other things, some individuals have called for the prosecution of men of the disbanded SARS and examination of their minds. Attempt by the inspector general of police to announce the formation of another new unit called SWAT (Special Weapon and Tactical Team) have been met with disdain as many Nigerians feel the new team will not be different from the previous SARS. Nigerians are now calling for the reformation of police force in terms of remuneration, promotion, welfare and education for effective service.
While agitation for police reform is still ongoing, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has introduced some new measures to meet up with the peoples’ demand.
Following the disbandment of SARS, the IG has ordered a medical examination of the disbanded operatives and set up a new supervisory committee to look into recruitment and issues of policemen. The proposed committee will feature professional psychologists, public relations practitioners, human right activists and other relevant groups. But many Nigerians are not optimistic about the new plan, saying it may just be another empty and fruitless promise to the masses.
There has also been fear on the path of the masses as many fear the protest will be hijacked by selfish elements in the society. Many celebrities have suspended their album launches and new movies while the #Endsars protest is ongoing. Popular musician, Wizkid, has announced the suspension launched of his new album due to the ongoing protest. Nollywood actress and producer, Toyin Aimaku has also suspended promotion of her first produced film. Q-dot who had planned to promote his new album through concerts in Ikorodu and Lagos, has also placed embargo till the protest is over.