NIGERIA NEEDS YOU: Here’s What’s Happening and How You Can Assist

Feeling really hopeless today. I’m Nigerian with very close ties to my country and this hurts. For a few weeks now, Nigerians have been calling for the dismantling of a notorious police squad, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) accused of using deadly force and abuse of power among a number of other things.

Similar to the murder of George Floyd, protests began after a video showed SARS officer allegedyly shoot a man in Delta State before driving off. The #EndSARS hashtag has spread across the country with over 200 million people around the world.

QUICK BACKGROUND: Formed in 1992, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad is a heavily armed police unit to fight violent crime including car jackings and armed robbery, and has become synonymous across much of Nigeria with allegations of police brutality and impunity.

Here’s a few steps that you can follow in efforts to educate and support:

GET INFORMED

We live in an age where information is easily accessible with the click of a button. There are endless ways to get informed about the #EndSARS protest in Nigeria.

Begin by taking a moment to review organizations that focus on the issues. As the Nigerian youth take the lead for this protest, there are 7 demands that you must know.

Another organization that’s committed to providing information and credible evidence is Amnesty International. In response to end impunity for police brutality in Nigeria, this organization has a call to action where you can sign up to send an email (takes less than 1 minute) to President Muhammadu Buhari and Attorney General Abubakar Malamifocuses to demand police reform and prosecute these officers for the heinous crimes.

To stay updated on what’s happening in Nigeria, you can also follow @AmnestyNigeria for more information.

Other social media channels you can follow to stay informed are as follows:

• End SARS Response Unit (Twitter: @EndSarsResponse)
• BBC News Africa (Twitter: @BBCAfrica)
• Pulse Nigeria (Twitter: @PulseNigeria247)

SPREAD AWARENESS

Post, share, retweet! Your social media platform serves as a powerful tool for this movement whether you have 10 or 10 million followers.

With a simple hashtag #EndSARS, you’re able to reach a global audience by informing the unknown that there is a violent and corrupt crisis that needs attention. Use your social media presence to amplify your voice by spreading awareness to the sufferings of people in Nigeria.

CALL TO ACTION

There’s always more ways you can contribute than spreading awareness and getting informed. Protestors in Nigeria are exhausted and need resources to fuel their fight for injustice.

You can help by donating your legal services and supporting organizations that provide food, emergency aid and security. One organization that focuses on peaceful protests and providing these resources is the Nigeria Feminist Coalition. Visit their website to learn more and donate here.