"The killing" - Part 1 - By Kemi Jinadu #endsars

A woman screamed, both hands placed on top of her head, the slim tall woman swayed left, then to the right, jumping up and down on the same spot. An older man held the woman by the waist as she lurched forward towards the young man covered in blood.

The larky dark skin complexion man pulled the woman towards him, “Orooooooooo,” then “Saliq!!!!!!”, the woman called out on a high pitch voice, followed by a cry.

Blood dripped down the young man’s forehead, his side and left arm, his light blue shirt was soaked with blood.

The fire burning close to the tarred road seemed to be spreading, the flame spiralled into a thick smoke even though it was dark the phones torch light made it visible, gunshot continued to ricochet incessantly.

People were running sideways, back, and forth calling out names, people gathered in groups mostly around someone who was shot.

A man who wore an army officer’s uniform further away started shooting into the air, he walked briskly in circle as he shoots.

Mama Saliq freed herself from the man who held her and ran towards Saliq, this time an average height sturdy man carried him, Saliq's lifeless hand dangled, his eyes closed, another man in yellow shirt held his legs.

“Get Mama Saliq out of here,” the older man shouted. A lady in brownish dreadlocks suddenly jumped from nowhere in front of Mama Saliq stopping her from going further.

Another woman held Mama Saliq as she was pushing, stamping her feet, trying everything possible to set herself free, to gain access to Saliq, her brown ankara wrapper dropped onto the floor from her waist, her beige colour camisole became evident, she screamed, her slender body hit the floor; some people joined in crying as they lifted Mama Saliq.

“Let us see if we can still get him to the hospital, he might still be alive,” a voice echoed.

“The army officers are turning away ambulances,” an unknown man replied.

Within a swift a video clip of a man whose intestine had busted out of his stomach started playing, I switched off my phone immediately, for a second it felt as if I was present during this tragic moment, that I was physically present. I was unconsciously in tears moved by Mama Saliq’s and other people’s calamity, I have had enough for that day, I needed to maintain and protect my sanity, the busted out intestine video clip could make one slip into chronic depression.

There were several heart-breaking and disturbing Endsars video links and clips circulating on social media, many of which the links have been reported and removed by Instagram, Facebook, and twitter, because such images go against their guidelines.

Also, some people were recruited and paid to look out and report any bloody Endsars video link on social media as disturbing just to get rid of the overwhelming evidence against the Nigerian government, according to research.

The irony was that today's youth were very smart and technology savvy, many of those videos were downloaded onto phones and laptops, which miraculously surface during the Endsars panel investigation.

It’s been a year since the Endsars incident which injured and took the lives of many in Nigeria, whether the federal government admits it or not, although Lagos State government recently confirmed there was killing that night after carrying out a thorough investigation.

The evidence of the tragic incident that happened on the 20th of October 2020 was overwhelming, if the Lagos – state government continue to deny or downplay the killings, the outcome could be devastating, and detrimental to whatever they are trying to protect, this could turn citizens against Lagos leaders including political Godfathers.

So, the crucial question here is who ordered the killings?

Moreover, did Sars really end since the dissolvement last year? Reflecting and looking back, will there ever be a peaceful protest like the Endsars protest before the killings? Has anything change? Did the Endsars protest really make any difference? How can all the factors that go against Endsars protest improve for good?  Looking back, the above are all the questions that comes to mind, do we have the answers? Did the Endsars protest really make any difference?

Will there ever be a peaceful protest like the Endsars protest before the killings?  In my opinion, I will say yes even though everything about Nigeria right now is not encouraging, not promising, the economy is sinking fast, very little works, and the abysmal situation can be frustrating but for a reason I cannot explain there is still an iota of optimism in me, although having such peaceful protest may not happen in a long time, it’s a human right our youth will have to fight for.

Everything about the Endsars protest was so peaceful before the tragic killings the youth in charge especially in Lagos dedicated their time and energy.  They received humanitarian, financial, moral, and physical support from well-wishers, supporters abroad, and from celebrities. Charging station for mobile phones were temporarily built at the protest ground for those who wanted to charge their phones, or for those people who had a flat battery while streaming live on social media for the world to see.

Nigerian Flags, drinks and food were distributed everyday although no alcohol was allowed, forty voluntary security men were deployed to protect the barricade and to stop people from misbehaving according to witness.  There was a teenage boy and girl amongst others who attended the protest all the time just to get food and drinks to eat, take home to Mama and their other siblings because there was no food to eat at home.

According to the boy during an interview in one of those video clips, he goes to every food distribution section including the celebrities’ corner to collect food and drinks, he falls into the category of those youth who did not want the protest to end, the protest was a means to an end, it was a temporary solution to hunger.

The celebrities came out in their numbers, they also provided food and drinks consistently until the last day of the protest before the government issued a curfew. 

One could ask if anything change. Nothing has change in Nigerian the situation is getting worse. Economically the cost of food is soaring daily, inflation is hitting our currency badly, rate of unemployment is so high, insecurity, terrorism in the form of Fulani herdsmen, bandits, and armed robbers are scaring the daily live out of those permanently resident or visiting Nigeria.

Another question came to mind, did the Endsars protest really make any difference? Yes, the Endsars protest makes a difference, both positively and negatively.  What started as a peaceful, jolly, jaunty, and united protest for once in Yorubaland, turned bitter, tragic, sorrowful and became a revelation of what the Nigerian government of 2020 really stood for.  Of course, there has been rumours of having a government in support of bandits, Fulani herdsmen and the notorious group Boko haram who have been terrorising a resourceful and blessed country for so many years.  The dreadful event, the long-awaited president speech and statement confirmed, not just the rumour but whose side the federal government was on.

The positive effect was that it revealed the federal government motives, their intentions, negligence, demeanour, and insensitivity towards Nigerians it all became evident to the doubting Thomas.

The heart-breaking incident brought back memories, remind us of a time Nigeria was ruled by a tyrant, an oppressive and military regime.

Guess we are back in the military regime, only this time our military leaders camouflage in Agbada, Dashiki, Buba and trousers.

A regime that takes away freedom of expression, shut down twitter, lockup any youth that freely expressed his/her opinion against the government.  Intimidate and coerce activist, sent them to jail, kill citizens, murder relatives of resilient activist, storm, and break into homes of activist at the early hours of the day.

Has the five/seven-point agenda gone out of the window? Was there any lesson learnt during the Endsars incident/protest? Are the Nigerian Youth living in fear? 

There were lessons to be learnt as far as I am concern, First, I think the protester should have halted the protest when the government decided to dialogue with our youth and suggested that each state should nominate two representative that will represent the youth and present the issues.

No representatives were presented, although there was rumour on social media concerning some individuals, I remember Falz, Charly Boy, Abdulkareem and others were popular nominees in Lagos, but none of these people were officially presented to the Government.

Many of the protesters said “No”, that the protest must continue; five-point agenda was increased to seven by the protesters but was not directly presented to the government in the way the government had suggested.

The peaceful Endsars protest was well-organised in terms of event, but was not properly structured, not well planned when it comes to dealing with the government, it has no end goal or directions.  Nigerians wanted a better country, they were not asking for too much, I was so much in support of the protest, but the youth failed in responding/handling the government. It was as if they did not know what next to do when they finally have the government's attention.

At first the Nigerian Buhari-government turn deaf ears to the cry of the youth regarding ending Sars.

An English activist Adam Bradford joined the online protest against Sars, his tweet was shared more than hundred thousand times.

Immediately, the former inspector general of police Mohammed Adamu came out as soon as more notable foreigners joined the protest online and disband SARs.

It was evident that the Nigerian government felt the poking after ignoring for so long, they were forced to react.

Nigerian government don’t want to be seen by the western world as operating an oppressive or dictatorship government.  Not because they genuinely cared about Nigerians, or that they fear the international body, is all about personal gain.

President Buhari’s medical care in the UK, must continue, his private jet must not be stopped from landing, even at the exorbitant fee of parking the jet for ten thousand pounds per day.

Their children’s education cannot afford to stop, those corrupt leaders in the corridor of power’s shopping and buoyant lifestyle must continue.

Again, who ordered the killings?...........Click here for part 2

 

Written By K Jinadu

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