#EndSARS: 3 years on, has anything changed?

The Endsars protest in its nationwide form, 20/10/20, and the events leading to the Lekki Tollgate massacre remain fresh.

It was like a dream, it started with the “Me too” cry that spiraled into solidarity chants from vibrant voices, it evoked a promise to do better, but faced an invasion of hijackers, alas! A bloodbath, a cry for justice, an attempt at covering up and then digging up, more investigations leading to inconclusive conclusions. Sources said there were mass burials. Many rumours, many lost forever, but no forgotten three years after.

One this was sure, the young and old united with one voice to “sorosoke” and it sure struck a chord that still sounds.

However, in spite of the revolutionary quagmire, what changed? Does police brutality persist?

CrispNG spoke with young Nigerians to get their opinion on the impact of the Endsars revolution 3 years later. This is what they had to say

Victor Vincent – Student
I always say Endsars was a major breakthrough in the eradication of police brutality because there were significant changes.

After the Endsars protest, the Federal government disbanded the SARS unit. The police became more responsive. If you file a complaint about police brutality you are more likely to get listening ears and get an instant response.

Now, people are more interested in police duties and how they function with members of society. As a police officer, you can’t easily harass people and go scot-free any longer, unlike before.

So, the harassment of citizens has reduced drastically, there are fewer cases of police brutality unlike in 2020, and 2019, even on campus. However, you can not say that it completely eradicated police brutality, there’s still work to be done.

Akuma Victor – Journalist

Yes, to be fair to the Nigerian Police Force, I feel there’s been a considerable improvement from what used to be. Although they claimed that the Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) unit has been scrapped, we still hear of some stories in parts of the country where young men are harassed by perceived SARS men.

But generally, there has been a huge improvement three years on, at least in my city Aba, as regards stop and search of boys with either tinted glass cars, tinted hair, and the like.

Meanwhile, I wouldn’t also say that the stop and search by the uniformed men should be abandoned, if not, it would breathe another catastrophe, because crime would increase and guys with dubious activities would feel very free.

There must be a way to balance the situation, to keep people in check, without having to embarrass them.

Obi Onyinye – Graphics designer

Honestly, I think it didn’t solve any problem but it was a step out of the cave. It awoke the consciousness of the masses to their rights and the existence of certain issues in the country.

Emeka Nathaniel – Architect
It was an eye-opener to Nigerians about Nigeria, we were able to see our weakness as a country and as Nigerians. Three years after the incidents and promises.

I have not seen a change, the effect of the change has not been felt by the masses and if the masses have not been able to feel the change, then they haven’t been a change.

Changes have only happened in the minds of Nigerians, not to the government which should effect these changes to make sure that our country is a safe place to live in. The reasons for the protests are still being played out. We can still see the inefficiency of our system.

There is going to be a change, but it’s just a matter of time, that is if every Nigerian begins to effect changes with their sphere of influence.

Blossom Afube – Economist

This is 2023, but not much has changed. It is just that those things are not as rampant as they used to be and also not as blatant as before.

Endsars created awareness and made people realise that if they come together for a cause, there are great possibilities that their voices will be heard. It made the youths realise that they can fight oppression if they stand united.

Victor Ikechukwu – Economist

Nothing has changed. The police have not changed, they still harass people unprovoked. The police is your friend is their motto, yet the friendship relationship is not there.

The purpose of the Endsars movement has not been achieved instead everything became worse. If you check the statistics of people who left and are leaving the country post covid it is on the high side compared to what was obtainable in the past, this is because people lost hope in the Nigerian system.

The political scene is not any better as the people in power seem not to care about the masses, they are telling them through their actions to do their worst, this is so glaring from what played out during the election, even a blind man can see it. Economy wise we are worst off.

Caleb Nnodim

The day 20/10/20 brings back sad memories. I remember watching the shooting live and it got me so angry, I there was anything that could have been done I would have done it. I was supposed to be at Lekki Tollgate that night, safe for the curfew. It gave the youths the dare to dream kind of mindset. It was the first time they felt so important in the country. It’s the proudest accomplishment of the Nigerian youths. However, the bad leaders found a means to silence it. Endsars is not dead yet, it is still on in our hearts. That’s why you see the obedient movement, though our hearts were shattered it keeps us determined to do more. It changed the mindset of many Nigerian youths.

Nothing changed because the police officers in question are still being accommodated in the system. People aren’t paying so much attention to it due to the hardship in the country, but the brutality is still there.

The change we were pushing for didn’t come. Recently, we found out that there were 103 dead people, even after the Lagos state government tried to cover it up.

However, it was a great movement and whenever I think about it I feel proud of myself. Hopefully, we will rise again, maybe for a different cause, be it what it may Endsars birthed it.

Chimezie A. – Journalist 

I don’t think they have changed. End SARS wasn’t just about ending SARS in Nigeria, it was about ending police brutality in the country, ending bribery and corruption in the police department. Have all those stopped? Capital NO. Police still collect money from motorists.

FG only said it had dissolved SARS but that wasn’t the first time SARS was dissolved. Let’s say we agree that they have dissolved SARS, but where are the former SARS members? What are they doing now? I’d bet my lunch that they are still with the police
I don’t think much has changed after the Endsars protest though, there have been little improvements in the way they harass people because we no longer see such