Three years have passed since the traumatic events of 20-10-20, the day Nigerian youths were massacred in mass because they were demanding for a life far from living in fear. For us, the Nigerian youths, the pain still lingers, still taints the air we breathe, still chokes us because absolutely nothing has changed.
The hashtag #EndSARS, which once shook the world in October 2020, was more than a hashtag; it was a rallying cry against police brutality and an unjust system. It was a revolution for change, a ray of hope for something new to look forward to. It was supposed to be the start of something beautiful. But then, this is Nigeria! Despite the promises of change, today, nothing seems to have changed at all. Nigerian youths continue to suffer, police brutality is still an everyday ordeal, and the hope for justice remains far-fetched, something to wish for like looking forward to a Christmas present in the cold nights of January.
The #EndSARS movement, back in October 2020 brought the Nigerian youths together, a union void of tribe and religion, void of gender and class, both in Nigeria and across the diaspora. We demanded an end to the atrocities committed by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other law enforcement agencies. Our voices echoed through the words we typed on social media, the streets we walked on in protests, and the heart-wrenching stories that painted a grey picture of life under the oppressive clutch of those meant to protect and serve.
It’s been three years, and painfully, nothing substantial has changed. The lives lost during the protests remain unaccounted for. Police brutality still haunts the lives of Nigerian youth; innocent people are harassed, extorted, and, in the worst cases, killed merely in the name of profiling, you can’t look a certain way, you can’t dress stylishly, you can’t own an iPhone, you can’t have tattoos, you can’t keep dreadlock - else, the assumption is that you must be involved in fraudulent activities, often referred to as "yahoo yahoo."
For the families who lost their loved ones during the #EndSARS protests, justice remains a dream, there’s literally no hope that the Government will turn themselves in as the perpetrators of the violence on that fateful night in Lekki and other places. The cries for justice will always echo in the wind, unheard and unanswered and carried away to neverland.
It has been three years, and the economic situation in Nigeria has not gotten any better, the living standard of the youth has not gotten better, and the economy continues to depreciate. Nothing to write home about! The exchange rate of the Nigerian Naira to the U.S. Dollar has reached exorbitant levels that basic necessities and foreign imports are beyond the reach of the average Nigerian. High inflation rates, unemployment, and general economic instability have created a sense of hopelessness among the nation's youth.
Perhaps most heart-wrenching of all is that the same fear that once gripped the hearts of many during and before the #EndSARS protests still persist. Young people are living in fear, afraid that they may become the next victim of an unjust system. It is almost a thing of celebration to come back home for the day without being harassed. We've lost faith in those who are meant to protect us and it is now common knowledge that “Police is not your friend.”
The #EndSARS campaign is still being felt in 2023. It is the duty of the Nigerian government to uphold the values of justice, human rights, and accountability for all of its citizens, especially the young. The anguish, misery, and dread that fill our hearts will endure until these promises are fulfilled and will act as a reminder that much work still needs to be done. As Nigerian youths, we will continue to seek justice for our fallen heroes and seek change for our living future.
Otuosoro Ranjo