As the Nation especially young Nigerians commemorate the third year Anniversary of the EndSars Protests that rocked the entire Country in October 2020, the incident that follows the protest sent shivers down the spine of young Nigerians who were part of the march for a better and improved Country.
That Peaceful protest remains one of the deadliest in the annals of Nigeria as the protest was met with brutality, harassment, arrest and subsequent killing of young and peaceful protesters who were protesting with the Nigerian flag while security agencies opened fire on them killing a number of them and putting the nation in a State of mourning.
A walk down memory lane to examine the sad events before and after revealed a situation where many young people lost their lives and made significant sacrifices for the liberation of Nigeria and it’s people in the hands of political leaders and security forces.
Tragically, over hundred (100) young Nigerians were reportedly killed in different parts of the Country with most of the casualties happening on the 20th of October 2020 when the military opened fire on unarmed youths protesting at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos against police brutality and bad governance.
The EndSars protest was a rallying point and milestone in our collective journey in nationhood as the youths who were fed up with police brutality and economic hardship tried using the EndSars platform to correct the wrong done by our leaders and security agencies.
The last time a vast majority of Nigerians galvanized around an idea and engaged in widespread civil protest was in 2012 during the Occupy Nigeria protest which was a fall out of the fuel subsidy removal by the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan regime.
Almost 3 years after the EnSars protest, sadly and regrettably, so many young Nigerians have been languishing in prisons in several Cities across Nigeria without been tried in a law Court to ascertain the gravity of their offence as the government continued to violate their fundamental human rights and freedom for peaceful association.
In many instances, a lot of young people especially those who were at the forefronts of the protest leading different segments and groups fled Nigeria for fear of their lives and those who stayed back were arrested, imprisoned and some of their accounts freezed by the Federal government.
The police are still arresting leaders, mobilizers, sponsors and other important figures who backed 20th October , 2020 protest as some of them have been declared wanted for their various roles and involvement in the protest while it lasted.
Among those declared wanted by the police include Boboye Segun (25), Charles Ndugwe (28), Nosa Arase (32), Samuel Alabama (29), Omojefe Destiny Ajenughure (28), Lakan Adeola (19), Lasisi Akimboye (17), Louis Ayo Emmanuel (26) Charity Chukwu (32) Alice Emmanuel (22) and others on the wanted list of security agencies almost three years after the EndSars incident.
Although, the whereabouts of the aforementioned young men and women is unknown as they are currently on the wanted list of security agencies, and there are fears in some quarters that some of them could have been forcefully and secretly arrested as it has been rumoured that some may even have been killed.
A lawyer acting for the family of Louis Ayo Emmanuel recently issued a statement asking the authorities to investigate a situation of possible enforced disappearance of Louis, one of the protesters whose family claimed that their son is missing for nearly three years now and yet his name is on the wanted list of security agencies for actively participating in the EndSars protest.
While the EndSars protests and a lot of unresolved issues around the incidents remain a misery and sore point as many human right activists and lawyers have continued to echo the calls for a thorough, comprehensive and transparent investigation, reports and accountability on the widespread human rights abuse and violations that characterized the period.
The commemoration will remain a mere remembrance without more until and unless justice and accountability is guaranteed to the victims families, hope of the Nigerian youths restored and trust in our judiciary restored. Only then will victory be for the Nigerian people.
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