Why #ENDSARS?

It’s difficult writing this. Since making the choice to be as engaged as possible with the #endsars protests, I have felt a sense of responsibility to ensure I am well informed at all times. However, this responsibility can quickly transform into an unrealistic amount of pressure placed on oneself not only affecting my personal mental and emotional health but more importantly diluting the message and forgetting why I am saying #endsars in the first place. 

Countless tweets, articles and shares later I was reminded of my why. It’s for Tina, for Chijoke, for Kolade, for Anita, for Jimoh. It’s for Femi, Tony, Anthony, Joy. It’s for the countless names and faces of my fellow Nigerian brothers and sisters whose transient lives were completely taken for granted. 

THIS IS WHY.

Amidst the rage, the sadness, the hurt and despair I am constantly encouraged by the people who refuse to let these names and their stories fall into oblivion. Their stories must be resurrected from that deep abyss they were once in and we must honour them consistently as our fallen soldiers in this fight towards a greater Nigeria. 

I was so touched by the recent candlelight event held in Lagos where this was done on such a large scale. With tears in my eyes, I was reminded of the reason why we fight. I was reminded why I will not relent in updating myself on what’s going on. I was reminded why voices break as we scream and shout for them to simply stop killing us.   

So this is a dedication to some of our fallen soldiers. I am deeply sorry it took me this long to wake up. I promise that each time I use the hashtag #endsars, I will be thinking of you as well as our survivors who are blessed to have lived to see another day. 

‘I long to hear the story of your life…’

william shakespeare

Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CGVAKbNnIeJ/ 

Source: https://twitter.com/MomentsWithBren/status/1316329992922558466 

Source: https://twitter.com/MomentsWithBren/status/1316329992922558466   

Source(s):
https://twitter.com/savndaniel/status/1280787336524152832 
 https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/10/endsars-chijiokes-dad-swam-in-river-of-dead-bodies-to-identify-his-son-%E2%80%95-lady-narrates-ordeal/ 

Source(s):
https://twitter.com/MomentsWithBren/status/1316329992922558466 
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/294918-police-arraign-alleged-killer-of-ex-ministers-niece.html 

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2019/04/02/africa/nigeria-police-shooting-outrage-intl/index.html

Source(s):
 https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-54276470 
https://punchng.com/late-rivers-musicians-family-demands-dpos-prosecution/ 

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“Police torture is a stain on Nigerian society that must be addressed” 

Amnesty International Nigeria, 2019

And so we will address. 
We will continue to protest. 
We will remember these stories and these faces 
and never cease to protect. 
We will not relent. 

Signed,

A (Young) Nigerian.

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RESOURCES:

• If you’d like to share your story or gain further insight as to more personal accounts on the atrocious and heinous crimes of SARS, please visit https://endsars.com/ 

• For further resources on what you can do to help – from donating, attending a protest or simply educating yourself on the matter, please visit https://endsars.carrd.co/