4 Years After #EndSARS: Justice Still Eludes, Brutality and Crackdown Persist as Protesters Mark Anniversary”- Israel Adeyemi

4 Years After #EndSARS: Justice Still Eludes, Brutality and Crackdown Persist as Protesters Mark Anniversary” by Israel Adeyemi

Four years after the #EndSARS movement rocked Nigeria, the memories of the violent crackdown by the Nigerian Army at Lekki Tollgate still hang heavy. On that infamous day, peaceful protesters were met with live rounds, leading to alleged deaths, injuries, and mass arrests. Despite widespread outcry both locally and internationally, the Buhari-led government denied responsibility for the military’s actions. Panels of inquiry were set up, but real change has remained elusive.

Fast forward to October 20, 2024, protesters gathered again at Lekki to honor those lost on that “Black Sunday” in 2020, but were met with tear gas by the Nigerian Police Force, further stirring disappointment and frustration.

Activists and civil society organizations (CSOs) voiced their anger over the unchanged landscape of police brutality and rights abuses. Rev. David Ugolor of ANEEJ reflected on the protests as a historic moment in Nigeria, one that showcased youth bravery in the fight for justice, yet highlighted the government’s inability to meet their demands.

Ugolor emphasized that although SARS was disbanded, police misconduct remains rampant. “The surface-level reforms haven’t tackled the culture of impunity,” he said. With ongoing cases of harassment, extortion, and brutality, it’s clear that deeper structural changes are needed.

The police have made minimal progress in improving their relationship with the public, with welfare and training still glaringly inadequate. Officers remain underpaid and under-resourced, which fuels corruption and unprofessional behavior. Until the root issues of police misconduct—like poor training and welfare—are fully addressed, trust between the public and law enforcement will remain broken.

The #EndSARS movement may have sparked global awareness, but four years later, the systemic problems it sought to highlight are still a painful reality for many Nigerians. The fight for justice and meaningful reform continues.