Page 26 - Institute Quaterly 5 Final

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In addition, the #EndSARS protesters were active on social While this was ongoing, starting from the 09 October, 2020, a
media, where they campaigned in support of their cause. As at group of youths began a #ProSARS movement in mainly Abuja
14 October, 2020, #EndSARS had generated about 85 million hits and some northern states. Supporters of the #ProSARS groups
on social media. clashed with the #EndSARS protesters in Abuja and Kano.

A hitherto unknown group, the #FeministCoalition was On 11 October, 2020, another group, generally referred to as
instrumental in funding the movement. It was successful in “hoodlums”, armed with crude weapons including cudgels
generating funds through donations from all over the world, and swords as well as axes emerged and began attacking the
using virtual platforms including bitcoins of about N148,000,000 #EndSARS protesters in Abuja, Lagos and Kano. The #EndSARS
($388,451.44). were quick to deploy private security practitioners to secure
their perimeters and this greatly mitigated the risk of attacks by
Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics indicate that the “hoodlums”. However, the private security operatives were
there are between 40 million and 135 million unemployed, limited in their abilities as Nigerian law does not allow them to
underemployed or disenchanted youths in Nigeria who are carry arms.
either high or semi-skilled with a significant number of them
uneducated and unskilled. There are two perspectives regarding the emergence of the
“hoodlums”: one perspective alleged they are youths paid by
Government Response either the government or politicians hired by government to
The thrust of the Nigerian government response was disrupt the #EndSARS protest. The second perspective viewed
concessionary during the first 11 days of the protests. However, the “hoodlums” as youths who felt the #EndSARS movement
this changed to a hybrid of concessionary and repressive had become political or hired by politicians of similar views.
measures by day 12. There was a perception engendered by social media reports that
the “hoodlums” are northern Muslim youths. Consequently, an
On 04 October, 2020, Muhammed Adamu, inspector general of ethnic and religious dimension was introduced. This resulted in
police (IGP), ordered the SARS and other tactical squads to no intercommunity violence in several parts of Abuja.
longer perform Stop and Search Operations “with immediate
effect.” One week after, on 11 October, 2020 IGP Adamu On 18 October, 2020 the Edo state government in South Nigeria
ordered the dismantling of SARS. On 13 October, 2020, IGP imposed a 24 hours curfew following widespread violence and
Adamu announced the creation of a new tactical squad, Special attack on two correctional services facilities and the freeing of
Weapons and Tactics (SWAT). the inmates. So far, 18 states have imposed curfews, some full
others at varied hours. The most controversial declaration is
that of Lagos state, which announced a curfew
initially at 4pm and later adjusted to 8pm on 20
October, 2020 followed widespread violence
and attacks on police facilities. Ahead of the
commencement of the curfew, some people in
military uniform believed to be soldiers allegedly
fired shots at the protesters in Lekki Toll Gate
in an attempt to disperse them. The Defence
Headquarters was quick to deny involvement of
its personnel. However, online reports including
from some prominent individuals at the protest
location showed videos of the uniformed men
shooting at the protesters. In response, the
Lagos State government constituted a judicial
panel of inquiry to investigate the circumstances
of the incident at Lekki Gate.
On 21 and 22 October, 2020 “hoodlums” in
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