Nigeria Faces a Breakdown of Legitimate Authority
Akeefah Lal Mahomed / Oct 25 / Human Rights
Abuse of power is nothing new to Nigerians. The country is currently experiencing the breakdown of legitimate authority as protests against police brutality of Nigeria’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) have united the nation’s youthful demographic and gained international attention.
While this has successfully led to the disbandment of SARS, the violence and instability continues.
Created in 1992 by Mr. Kwajafa, SARS was designed to address armed robberies and kidnappings in Nigeria’s capital, Lagos. As a special tactical unit, it was able to carry out specific orders beyond the capacity of ordinary police. With expansions of the force since then, their positive reputation has been tainted with a multitude of human rights controversies, ranging from assaults to kidnappings and killings. Anonymity, essential at the time of its creation for combating gangs, now creates a lack of accountability in the face of aggravations.
“I know a lot of people who have lost their lives to these…I don’t know what to call them, ‘law enforcers’.” – Think Nigeria, Podcast
The growing awareness has been sparked by a viral video that surfaced on the 3rd of October, showing a suspected SARS officer shooting a young man. Creating particular traction through Twitter, the hashtag #ENDSARS began trending globally and is seen as a symbolic representation of Nigeria’s anti-police brutality protest movement.
Social media has been pivotal to the movement. The ability to share videos through sites has spread awareness of continuing abuse and kept the movement alive. #ENDSARS has been endorsed by global celebrities such as Trey Songz, Rio Ferdinand, and Kanye West. Recognition has resulted in a surge of solidarity, through donations from the diaspora communities and condemnation of police violence by US-based rights groups.
The impressive organizational capabilities of the protestors have been productive for endurance. The new generation has shown innovative tactics in creating long-lasting protests, such as phone charging stations, overnight tents, breakfast stands, and more. These have been shared across different states using social media, appealing to the ‘collective spirit’ that recognises that sharing experiences is essential in limiting the suppression of truth.
Disbandment
The disbandment of SARS across all 36 states came into immediate effect on the 11th of October 2020 by President Muhammadu Buhari. This has followed with the Nigerian Police Force’s ‘Five Things’ - an attempt to tackle the culture of impunity within the police force. However, the new alternative policing unit for tackling violent crimes: Special Weapons and Tactics team (SWAT), was announced on the same day. This has been met with high scepticisms as many fear it is the old regime under a new name. Though it has been stated that previous SARS officers will not be enlisted in the new program, there is a lack of transparency and trust in the government. During the last 3 years, SARS has been disbanded 3 times. The promises for more professionalism and accountability are hollow for many.
“We don’t trust him and we don’t believe him” – Olasunkanmi Amoo, Protestor, NY Times
Embedded into this issue is where the officers have been dissolved. SARS personnel have been scattered amongst other police units across the country. Whilst the termination of the squad serves as new liability, signalling a warning to other corrupt officers, it does not address reformation for bad policing head-on. This point is emphasised by the continuation of brutality. More dangerously, redeployment of officers to units across the country holds the possibility of hiding aggression into a larger system. Unsatisfied with disbandment, many continue protests for more systemic reform, actualisation of policies and demanding that reckless ex-SARS officers face justice. Some are hoping with the continuation of protests that Nigeria will gain the attention of the U.N. for support in long-term developments.
“Even though the country is rejoicing right now…I can’t help but ask these questions, you are taking these people’s jobs and you are asking them to join the police force. They will be redeployed to join the police force. How is that helpful? Isn’t this really a worse situation? You take their jobs away from them and then you spread them out?
“They are going to have guns. They are going to have power. And these people have abused power in the past.”
More systemic problems
A catalyst working in the undercurrents is Nigeria’s increasing economic insecurity. The cost of living has been steadily rising, creating a gap in the means to provide. Oil prices have risen, the youth are finding difficulties in securing employment, while the human rights violations continue. The people are tired. #ENDSARS is a trailblazer for the wider distrust and discontent being directed towards the current administration.
Platforms such as Twitter and Instagram are being used to vocalise and catalogue the use of force on protests since disbarment. On the 13th October, there was a violent exchange between protestors and a government vehicle. On the 16th, there were claims of teargas in Awkuzu. On the 19th, protestors broke into Ugbenkun Police Station to free suspects in custody. On the 20th, protestors in Lagos and Lekki were shot. Pouring salt into the wounds, the events on the 20th October were disregarded as fake by authority figures. This led to Instagram initially marking the bloody Nigerian flag circulating as fake news, only to be corrected in the face of livestreams as proof. As I write this, military vehicles are being rolled out in Lagos. Protests continue as the youth demand justice and reform, and the use of social media continues to illuminate the extents of brutality.
“So we can ask for things to change, but we can also be the people who go out and get it through force, if they will not give it to us willingly” – Chika Agu, Radio Presenter, BBC interview
I believe asking the protestors to bury their dissatisfaction is naïve. Whilst disbandment is to be celebrated, and fears for law, order, and stability are legitimate, the voices recognizing the legacy of ineffective attempts to tackle systemic issues are valid. Disbanding and repackaging officers is comparatively easy compared to the deep-rooted matter at hand. It should also be noted that the lack of belief is not only in the police, but the ability of the government to provide security.
Overcoming SARS was a symbol of change for wider discontent; the continuation in violence against protesters has undermined this. Nigerians were asking for the closing of SARS, charging for abuse, and evidence of systemic change. Putting measures in place to stop authority violence and protect citizens during policy development would go a long way in providing time to implement changes. It should be acknowledged that I understand that it is not practical to simply dismiss all ex-personnel’s into an already tense economy but it is possible to install checks and balances to create an environment of accountability moving forwards. Accountability, transparency, and responsibility are key to the reforms. The continued use of force is only fuelling anger and weakening trust in the state.
The message on how to obtain structure is becoming unclear as the situation intensifies. SARS is part of a larger issue in the ability of the Buhari administration to provide security. With grievances remaining unresolved, disbarment continues to resemble broken promises of the past. Some fear Nigeria may become locked into a conflict cycle as protests continue. There has been criticism from the older generations regarding violent manifestations of protests, advising the youth to subdue their anger. This has been met with retorts that these protests are a result of the previous generation not doing enough. The longer it continues, the more the internal divide grows.
“I’m not trying to be a pessimist, but I’m just saying, how? It’s scary. It’s very very scary.” - Think Nigeria, Podcast
A note to readers: when signing petitions pushing for aid, there are key differences in the types of intervention in the international community. Economic sanctions will only harm local Nigerians, who are already suffering from insecurity. Many locals also fear external intervention due to the recent purchasing of land from China and Western intervention that has funded SARS in the past. The role of the international community is perhaps more useful in pushing mutual aid and mediation.