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How the #EndSARS Movement is a Catalyst for Political Change in Nigeria

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Introduction In October 2020, Nigeria witnessed a historic uprising that captured the attention of the world: the #EndSARS movement. Born out of frustration with police brutality, mainly perpetrated by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), the movement rapidly became a powerful catalyst for political change in Nigeria. Beyond its demand to end police brutality, the #EndSARS movement has unearthed deeper issues within Nigerian society and has galvanized a generation to demand accountability, transparency, and good governance. This article delves into how the #EndSARS movement is reshaping the political landscape in Nigeria. Police Brutality and the Emergence of #EndSARS The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was established in Nigeria in 1992 to combat violent crimes such as robbery and kidnapping. However, over the years, the unit became notorious for its excessive use of force, extrajudicial killings, extortion, and torture. The tipping point came when a video circulated on social med

The Role of Nigerian Youth in the #EndSARS Movement and its Impact

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 The #EndSARS Movement is an online protest occurring in Nigeria and in some other countries since October 2020. It has generated a great amount of discussion online, particularly by young Nigerian people, who are the driving force behind the movement. #EndSARS is an acronym for the Anti-Police Brutality Coalition’s Refuse to Submit Campaign. The campaign, initiated by a large number of protesters, calls for the termination of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a notorious police unit that has killed and terrorized Nigerians for decades. The #EndSARS Movement is an online protest occurring since October 2020. The campaign, initiated by a large number of protesters, calls for the termination of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a notorious police unit that has killed and terrorized Nigerians for decades. Supporters of the movement have been organizing online protests, some of which have translated into massive demonstrations across Nigeria. The online organizers of the #EndSARS

The History of Police Brutality in Nigeria and How the #EndSARS Movement is Changing the Landscape

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The #EndSARS movement has taken the world by storm, with Nigerians from all walks of life uniting in a call for an end to police brutality. The movement has been incredibly successful in drawing attention to a long-standing issue in Nigeria: police brutality. This violence has been an unfortunate reality for Nigerians for decades, and as a result, the #EndSARS movement has been a powerful force for change. The history of police brutality in Nigeria dates back to the colonial era when the British used oppressive tactics to enforce their rule. Over the years, the Nigerian police force has been accused of using excessive force and committing human rights violations in order to maintain order and control the population. Evidence of this can be found in reports from the early 2000s, which documented cases of police brutality against Nigerians. The #EndSARS movement is a direct response to this long history of police brutality in Nigeria. The movement began in 2017 with a social media campai

Abuse of power by the police in Nigeria

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  In recent years, Nigeria has seen a growing concern about police brutality. Reports of excessive force, torture, and extrajudicial killings by police officers have become increasingly common, leading to widespread public outrage and calls for reform. The problem of police brutality in Nigeria is not new, but it has become more prevalent in recent times, and this is a cause for great concern. One of the most high-profile cases of police brutality in Nigeria occurred in October 2020, when a video surfaced on social media showing officers of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) shooting a young man in the presence of other police officers. The video sparked widespread protests and demands for accountability, leading the government to disband SARS and replace it with a new unit. However, despite the government's efforts to address the problem, reports of police brutality continue to surface. In January 2021, Amnesty International reported that Nigerian police officers

#EndSARS: The Federal Government compensates 74 victims of police abuse with N289 million

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74 victims of human rights violations perpetrated by the former Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigerian Police Force have been awarded a total of N289 million in compensation by the Federal Government of Nigeria as part of the #EndSARS campaign (NPF). A presentation of checks to the victims was placed at the headquarters of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Abuja. The chairperson of the board expressed gratitude to those individuals who had filed complaints with the Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations concerning the prohibited SARS and other police units. She thanked them for having faith in the country's human rights mechanisms and for diligently presenting and pursuing their cases in front of the panel. She gave her word to the people of Nigeria that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which is an independent institution, will continue to carry out its duties as outlined in the National Human Rights Commission Act. These duti

SARS, the once infamous police unit now known as the Rapid Response Squad, and its commander, Ogundola, are terrorising residents of the Ekiti region, according to reliable sources.

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CSP Marcus Ogundola, head of the Ekiti State Police Command's Rapid Response Squad (RRS) unit, and unit operators have been charged with illegal executions, arrests, conversion of suspects' property to personal use, and demand of "outrageous bond amounts in return for people's release." According to SaharaReporters, Ogundola was the leader of the infamous Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force until it was abolished last year after the #EndSARS demonstrations. SARS was infamous for its violence, extrajudicial executions, and violations of human rights. On October 11, 2020, Mohammed Adamu, the former Inspector General of Police, announced the disbandment of the police unit in response to widespread outrage against the police unit's crimes. According to people interviewed by SaharaReporters, the present RRS team is comprised up of former SARS agents. "They are making a killing in police uniforms by extorting Ekiti State youths in the

Victims of police brutality would get N102 million from Delta State.

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  Following the acceptance of the findings of a judicial panel of inquiry into recorded instances of police brutality in the state, the Delta State government has announced that it would pay a total of N102, 450, 000 to victims of police brutality. January a statement made only hours before the first anniversary of the #ENDSARS demonstrations that erupted throughout the nation in 2020, the Delta State government announced that a unit of the Nigeria Police called the Special Anti-Robbery Squad will be disbanded effective immediately (SARS). Chief Patrick Ukah, Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG), made the announcement at an Asaba press conference. Ukah said that the decision to alleviate the suffering of some of the victims was made after the findings of the judicial panel of inquiry was taken into account. Asaba and Warri were the sites of public hearings for the judicial panel, which was launched by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in October 2020 after receiving a total of 86 petitio

Nigerian Press Freedom Is in Danger of Being Extinguished

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Koo, Twitter's Indian competitor, has just started advertising to Nigerians, backed by a strong brand ambassador: President Muhammadu Buhari. The endorsement comes more than two months after Buhari banned Twitter in Nigeria in reaction to the social media firm removing a provocative post from Buhari threatening violence against followers of a southeast separatist movement. The endorsement of certain media businesses is the latest step in the government's continuous campaign to stifle free speech. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Nigeria's media regulating authority, sent a letter to Nigerian broadcast stations last month directing them to minimize the country's deteriorating security situation, especially the danger posed by Boko Haram and banditry. NBC defended its stance by claiming that reporting on these problems has a propensity to incite more violence. This argument would be plausible if the government had not been gradually eroding free speech rights.

Nigerian Medical Student Flees from Class after Finding out Corpse for Practical was that of an Old Friend

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For medical students at Nigerian institutions, dealing with corpses in anatomy class is an unavoidable reality, but what Mr. Egbe saw shook him to his core. Enya Egbe, a medical student at the University of Calabar in Cross River, found that the corpse given to him for his anatomy class practical was really that of a friend. Following his discovery, the 26-year-old instantly went to his heels in sobs. According to Egbe, he and his buddy Divine had known each other for more than seven years had clubbed together. Egbe finally informed Divine's relatives, who had come to collect their relative's corpse. It came out that they had been visiting several police stations in search of Divine, who had been detained on his way home after a night out by security agents. Divine's torso was pierced on the right side of his chest by two bullets. According to the BBC, Egbe's finding is an example of the harsh reality that Nigerian medical students confront. Apart from a scarcity of cor