By Mojúbàolú Olúfúnké Okome
20 October 2024 was the 5th Anniversary of Nigeria’s #EndSARS protests. We should soberly reflect on the implications for democracy and human rights.
The 2020 #EndSARS protests shows us an example of courageous youth activism, generational politics, and digital organizing that foregrounds and underlines a demand for democracy, inclusion and human rights. These are laudable ideals. The youths, some of whom remain in jail, and many of whom lost their lives, are to be commended. We should also be committed to having the kind of catastrophe that involves state suppression of citizens’ rights to protest not ever happening in our dear country.
The #EndSARS protests erupted in October 2020 as Nigerian youth demonstrated against police brutality by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), demanding good governance, accountability, and an end to state impunity. On October 20th, peaceful protesters at Lagos’s Lekki tollgate faced gunfire from the Nigerian Army after authorities disabled floodlights and cameras, resulting in at least 15 confirmed deaths.
Key Takeaways
Generational Framing
- Nigerian #EndSARS Youth protesters branded themselves “Sọ̀rọ̀sókè” (Speak Up!) and labeled the older generation “Gbẹ́nudákẹ́” (Be Quiet/Silent), suggesting elders were complicit through their silence on state violence
- I challenge this characterization as ahistorical, noting that Nigeria has a long history of youth protests, including the 1978 “Ali Must Go” protests, 1989 anti-Structural Adjustment protests, 1993 June 12 protests, and 2012-2013 #OccupyNigeria
Digital Organization & Transnational Reach
- The #EndSARS protesters used hybrid spaces—both physical locations and cyberspace—to organize, communicate in real-time with transnational Nigerian diaspora communities, disseminate information, fundraise, and advocate
- The movement drew inspiration from Black Lives Matter following George Floyd’s killing, with BLM publicly declaring solidarity with #EndSARS and both movements using similar language and horizontal organizing structures
- The Feminist Coalition, led by young women, used Flutterwave to collect 25 million Naira ($55,000) between October 8-13 before the Nigerian government disabled the account
- Horizontal Leadership Model
- When the Nigerian state attempted to negotiate with “leaders,” protesters responded that everyone was a leader—an organizing principle characteristic of contemporary social movements like Occupy Wall Street, the Arab Spring, and Black Lives Matter
- Older generation analysts criticized this as “disorganized,” but I argue that leaderlessness was a strategic choice reflecting modern horizontal movement organizing
Inclusivity & Limitations
- The queer community openly participated in #EndSARS protests in unprecedented ways, though they faced homophobic resistance that forced even the Feminist Coalition to reduce their vocal support, revealing limits to the movement’s inclusivity
- Women participated robustly but faced expectations to defer to men and handle welfare/care work alongside protesting, showing persistent gender hierarchies within the movement
- Class divisions emerged: middle-class, educated, tech-savvy urban youth were most visible, while marginalized poor youth who joined displayed more anger and engaged in looting government COVID-19 relief warehouses
Ideological Character
- For me, #EndSARS was not radically anti-capitalist but rather called for reforms to make existing political and economic structures function better, reflecting protesters’ neoliberal sensibilities and alignment with liberal democratic values
- Protesters refused to enter formal political processes or join government inquiry commissions, suggesting reluctance to be absorbed into a system they critiqued as corrupt
Structural Grievances
- Nigeria ranks 161st out of 180 countries on the Human Development Index and scored only 46.6 in overall governance on the 2019 Ibrahim Index, showing youth had legitimate reasons for discontent
- Economic precarity, unemployment, underemployment, and the attractiveness of “jápa” (urgent international migration) strategies drove youth frustration
Lasting Questions
While the protests were temporarily suppressed through state violence, they represent youth fulfilling their generational mission to challenge injustice, though questions remain about building durable institutions and whether virtual organizing can sustain long-term political transformation.
Okome Professor of Political Science, African & Women’s Studies Brooklyn College, CUNY
The views expressed by contributors are strictly personal and not of Law & Society Magazine.
