FSARS protests and lessons
The peaceful #EndSARS protests which turned bloody might have come and gone, but it left bitter taste in the mouths of government and families of innocent young protesters that lost their lives and other individuals whose properties worth millions of naira were either vandalised or carted away by criminals. The protests began peacefully, with the […]
The peaceful #EndSARS protests which turned bloody might have come and gone, but it left bitter taste in the mouths of government and families of innocent young protesters that lost their lives and other individuals whose properties worth millions of naira were either vandalised or carted away by criminals.
The protests began peacefully, with the protesters demanding for government to end the SARS brutality against Nigerians. Interestingly, the government agreed with the protesters’ demand and scrapped it.
After the disbandment of the notorious SARS, the Inspector General of police announced the creation of the Special Weapons and Tactical Team (SWAT) to replace SARS.
Sadly, instead of the protesters to sheath their sword and wait for new the SWAT, they erred. Later, it was hijacked by miscreants or thugs.
The once peaceful protests turned violent and became leaderless.
Criminals wielded and brandished dangerous weapons. They harassed and attacked law-abiding citizens. Before government put stop to their madness, the country’s atmosphere became tensed and chaotic.
People were running helter-skelter to avoid mobs that were on rampage maiming, killing and looting helpless Nigerians. The protests, which started in Abuja and Lagos, suddenly spread like wild fire across the country.
In northern Nigeria, many youths staged a protest, calling for government to end the insecurity that defies lasting solutions and continue to claim the lives of poor villagers.
Even Nigerians in Diaspora, in solidarity with the protesting youths, were not left out. In Germany, England, France and America, there were protests by Nigerians calling for government to end SARS. Although the protests have yielded the expected results by forcing government to disband SARS, in Lagos and Edo states, however, it were tales of gory.
The violent protesters burnt NPA, The Nation newspaper office and broke into correctional centers in Benin, where inmates were set free.
While the protests persisted, then came the report of Lekki shooting, where a number of protesters were said to have been killed. The Lekki alleged shooting of protesters have generated mixed reactions and condemnation from international communities, calling for investigation.
The aftermath of the protests was greeted by looting spree by Nigerian youths. Many warehouses in states where covid-19 palliative food items were stored had been busted into and goods carted away. In many circulated video clips, one sees greedy youths looting and loading food items.
There were reported stampedes that claimed the lives of many people in Kwara and other states. The manner in which the youths looted the covid-19 foods reaffirmed the belief that the country is in hunger mood. The question begging for answer is: Why have the state governors refused to share the palliatives all these while? The covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc to the economy with many household struggling to eke out a living. The palliative were deliberately rolled out to help poor people. It is very disturbing to find that many state governors have failed to share it for reasons best known to them.
Now, those who hoarded the palliatives have to contend with the excessiveness of hungry and frustrated Nigerians. Those responsible for hoarding the food should have themselves to blame.
Prior to the unfortunate protests which turned violent, there have been a series of international agencies damning report against the government of Nigeria. Last year, the world poverty clock ranked the country as the poverty headquarters of the world. In another report, Nigeria is said to be the least peaceful country in sub-Saharan Africa. Recently, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) predicted looming hunger in the country this year. These unpleasant report, coupled with poor governance, can trigger unrest in the country.
Besides poverty and hunger, the high rate of unemployment is not helping matters. Most of the youths who participated in the protest are unemployed. As the saying goes “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop”. While government has been blowing trumpet on some of its pro-people policies or social intervention programmes, such as trader-moni, anchor borrowers, N-power, school feeding etc. It seems these programmes have failed to stimulate economic growth in the country.
There is an urgent need for government to reevaluate these policies and remodel them for effective service delivery. The end SARS protest is just a tipping point of frustration, poverty and hunger in the country. The present administration should create more jobs for our teeming unemployed youths. By so doing, future protests would be less attractive for youths who would have been gainfully employed.
Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua wrote from Kaduna State