#EndSARS: Here Are 15 Iconic Photos From The Protest

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There’s been a long-held belief, sometimes shared publicly, among Nigeria’s leadership elite that the country’s youth do not care enough about social and political causes—but what happened in Nigeria last month made that myth to be completely shattered for a generation.

From 8th to 20th of October, young Nigerians converged in several cities across the country in larger and larger numbers and protested against rampant police brutality, particularly by an infamous special anti-robbery unit that has become known for extorting, illegal arresting, and in extreme cases, killing innocent civilians. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. View pictures in App save up to 80% data.

View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Starting from an #EndSARS online campaign, thousands of young Nigerians—many of whom have had horrific experiences with the unit, demonstrated at the key locations across Nigerian cities, most prominently in Lagos and Abuja, ensuring their voices are heard.

The protests was driven by an internet-savvy generation relying on digital tools not just to organize and mobilize support in terms of getting large numbers to attend, but also for raising funds on digital platforms and even with bitcoin.

They were also prepared with donors supplying packed meals and umbrellas and printing placards. But also used social media to help dispel misinformation from traditional media.

This was a time the youths were winning, It was moving well and yielding positive results until hoodlums hijacked the whole protest. If the activities of hoodlums is part of the script to DISCREDIT the once peaceful protests? Only God Knows. The attention moved from the alleged massacre at Lekki to hoodlums activities. Killings, looting, impending anarchy became the order of the day. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. View pictures in App save up to 80% data.

View pictures in App save up to 80% data. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. The international sympathies the protesters were looking for were eroded with pictures and videos of looting and vandalism streaming from out streets into both local and foreign media.

Many Nigerians who came out or invested their resources and energies on the streets, never knew that some other elements were with them protesting, but these elements have their agendas different from intended patriotic agendas.

The fact that the protests lacked leadership or a visible leader, was difficult for both the government and the protesters to regulate the protests. But when several vested interests began to find expressions in the protests including pushing for regime change, the protests began to loose apolitical base. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. View pictures in App save up to 80% data.

View pictures in App save up to 80% data. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. I commend and congratulate Nigerian youths who came out to send a strong message to the foundation of the country. You did your best, but got hijacked along the line without your knowledge. The protest was a golden opportunity to hold the government of the day to ransome for electoral reforms. That is where most of our problems are.

As things are now, we lost a strong grip to negotiate, to place our demand on the sacred altar of hope in a brighter future, where the powers that be would attend to them with utmost fear and trembling.

Oh God of creation, help our youth this truth to know. Within the article are some iconic photos taken during the course of the EndSars campaign.

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#EndSARS: Here Are 15 Iconic Photos From The Protest