Ending police brutality formed the crux of their movement, “EndSARSNow!’ was the song on their lips, as they marched in Lagos, Oyo, Edo, Osun, and Ondo states, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to mention a few. Virtually, there were protests in all the six geo-political zones in the country, with youths seeking the disbandment of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
In the mass protest that began early October 2020, shortly after the Nigerian Labour Congress called off its scheduled nationwide protest, late September, thousands of youths, whose tension was already bottled up by various experiences of police brutalities cum the COVID-19 lockdown, and who could not control their erupting urge for resistance, took to the streets across various states in the country.
Fast forward to October 20, 2020, the protests had grounded Nigeria, gained international attention and supports until the shooting at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos, by the Nigerian military, began.
It was a silent night, as protesting Nigerian youths began to mourn their colleagues. Admittance and denials began from state authorities, since then, the question: ‘Who ordered the shooting?’ is still being asked.
Few days after October 20, 2020, protesters’ arrests began even amid judicial panels set up across states to investigate cases of police brutality, before and during the #ENDSARS uprising.
On November 13, 2020, nine youths were arrested by the Oyo State Police Command over their involvement in the #ENDSARS protest, which the the state government claimed to have led to the killing of police personnel.
Adeshina Muyiwa, Ikechuckwu Eze, Ariyo Sodiq, Ikenna Amaechi, Oyewole Olumide, Ariyo Afeez, Taoreed Abiodun, Adekunle Moruf, Rasheed Tiamiyu, are currently being prosecuted by the state government.
They were charged with five counts bordering on murder, stealing of police rifles, and other ammunitions, and setting of police station ablaze.
The nine of them, whose case has suffered several adjournments since 2020, are languishing in Agodi prison, Ibadan, the state capital.
Arrested between October 23 and 25, 2020, Ismail Muftao, Sodiq Sulaimon, Yahaya Mustapha, and Faruq Abdulquadri are being charged with arson and robbery, and tried at the ENDSARS Court 2, Yaba Magistrate Court.
According to a civil society organisation, the Take It Back Movement, which is providing legal assistance to them, Muftau was arrested at his Ikorodu residence and was only taken to court three times (with the court not sitting) since detention at Kirikiri maximum prison. “His previous court appearance was December 17, 2020. He has only been to court once this year which is June 24, 2022,” a leader of the TIB, Banwo Olagookun told The PUNCH.
Sulaimon, who was arrested at his Ijora residence, according to the organisation, also last appeared in the court on June 24, 2022. According to the CSO, Jamiu Sani, Segun Adeniji, Ibrahim Adesanya, Daniel Joyibo, Dare Williams, Onuora Odih, Jeremiah Lucky, Gideon Ikwujoma, Haruna Adekunjo, Irinyemi Oluwanbe, Joshua Adeleke, Kabiru Ajetunmobi, Moses Ofoke, Quadri Azeez, Sodiq Riliwan, Olamide Lekan, Idris Lawus, Charles Adele have been transferred to Ikoyi prisons from Kirikiri maximum prisons.
Another individual, Sunday Okoro, was said to have been granted bail since 2021 but had yet to meet his stringent bail conditions. Okoro was said to have been hospitalised for over a month in the prison, and is still languishing in the Kirikiri maximum prison.
Police brutality has not left the Nigerian streets since the mass protests against the menace in 2020.
Numerous cases of assaults and extortions by the police had been recorded, with the police force dismissing those found wanting.
on Thursday, September 27, a viral video in which two policemen were seen assaulting the two brothers. One of the brothers, who filmed the assault, claimed that the policemen threatened to kill his brother over vehicle papers.
In the video, one of the brothers tackled the policeman, who physically assaulted him, while another officer warned the other one to stop recording the scene.
The man recording the video said the police were threatening to kill his brother because of vehicle particulars and driver’s licence, labeling them as thieves. The Bayelsa State Police Command has also commenced grilling of the two officers.
