The Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), popularly known as SARS was a unit with major task of combating and reduction of robbery activites in Nigeria but the unit became a notorious unit of the Nigeria Police Force, SARS officers started misusing and abusing their power by arresting, torturing, and even kill innocent Nigerian extra judiciously, The youths are the major target of SARS, hence the need to END SARS.
The END SARS protest started in Lagos on the 7th of October 2020, some youths in Lagos took the bold of planning to stage a protest from Ikeja under the bridge to the Police Headquarters in Ikeja to show their dissatisfaction against police brutality most especially the SARS units.
This demonstration later transformed into a national protest and it became a global issue after the military opened fire at unarmed citizens demonstrating their fundamental right to protest.
On the night of the 20th of October 2020, the military used live ammunition at peaceful people exercising their civil right to protest.
There was a massacre at the Lekki Toll Gate.
Those who were massacred during the EndSars Protest at the Lekki Toll Gate are yet to get justice, while some people have been declared missing after the tragic incident at the Lekki Toll Gate, There are over 30 Endsars protesters in different prisons across Nigeria.
On 23rd July 2023, the Lagos state government announced mass burial for 103 bodies that were found around the Lekki toll gate after the incident, After lots of public outcry the governor of Lagos has halted the mass burial plan. While some people believe those who were missing after the incident at the toll gate may be among the 103 corpses.
Three years later, activists organised a memorial walk to draw the government’s attention to getting justice for the dead and freedom for those languishing in prison over the past 3 years.
As usual, the venue of the walk which was at the Lekki Toll Gate was militarized by various security agencies. The police harassed anyone that stopped at the Lekki Toll gate and declared that zone: No waiting, Keep moving.
Despite all the odds, popular activist, Omoyele Sowore, Mr Macaroni and others were at the venue and made their position clear to the government by asking the government to release all Endsars protesters that are in various prisons across the states of the federation.
In addition to that, a minute silent was also observed to honour those that lost their lives during the protest.
Again the armed security men re-emphasised, “Keep Moving, No Waiting.”
Written by Ikugbadi Oluwasegun