{"id":1017,"date":"2026-10-25T04:52:57","date_gmt":"2026-10-25T04:52:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/25\/endsars-cry-of-justice-for-victims-louder-six-years-after\/"},"modified":"2026-10-25T04:52:57","modified_gmt":"2026-10-25T04:52:57","slug":"endsars-cry-of-justice-for-victims-louder-six-years-after","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/25\/endsars-cry-of-justice-for-victims-louder-six-years-after\/","title":{"rendered":"#EndSARS: Cry of justice for victims louder six years after"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"#EndSARS:<\/p>\n

By Gabriel Ewepu<\/strong><\/p>\n

As Nigerians commemorated the sixth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests on Wednesday, October 20, civil society organisations (CSOs) and lawyers said the issues that triggered the protests remain unaddressed.<\/p>\n

They noted that while the core demands of the protesters remain largely unmet, commitments made by the government have also not been realised.<\/p>\n

There was a consensus that sacrifices made by those affected in various ways during the protests have not translated into improved policing in the country.<\/p>\n

Sunday Vanguard recalls that the #EndSARS protests were a series of nationwide demonstrations that erupted in Nigeria in October 2020 against police brutality, extortion, torture, unlawful arrests and extrajudicial killings allegedly committed by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit of the Nigeria Police Force established to combat armed robbery and other violent crimes.<\/p>\n

SARS<\/h4>\n

Although concerns about alleged SARS abuses had persisted for years, the protests gained momentum following the circulation of a video in early October 2020 showing a police officer allegedly shooting a young man in Ughelli, Delta State.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Young Nigerians mobilised through social media, particularly Twitter, using the hashtag #EndSARS to demand the disbandment of the unit, justice for victims of police brutality and comprehensive police reforms. The demonstrations spread to Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan and other cities, attracting thousands of young people who also called for better governance, accountability and respect for human rights.<\/p>\n

On October 11, 2020, the police announced the dissolution of SARS, but protesters continued their demonstrations, insisting on concrete reforms, accountability for alleged abuses and compensation for victims.<\/p>\n

Tragic<\/h4>\n

\u00a0The movement reached a tragic turning point on October 20, when soldiers opened fire on protesters gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, an incident that attracted international condemnation and became a defining moment in Nigeria\u2019s recent history. Amnesty International reported that at least 12 protesters were killed at Lekki and Alausa in Lagos that day.<\/p>\n

Widely referred to as the Lekki massacre, the incident intensified public outrage and renewed demands for justice. Although judicial panels of inquiry were established in several states to investigate allegations of police brutality, concerns over accountability and the implementation of their recommendations have persisted.<\/p>\n

To date, the protests remain a significant expression of youth activism and the struggle for police accountability and good governance in Nigeria.<\/p>\n

Six years after, some stakeholders, including civil society groups, told Sunday Vanguard that key recommendations by the judicial panels of inquiry were yet to be fulfilled, while the immediate and underlying issues that led to the protests persisted.<\/p>\n

Nigerians deserve evidence of transformation \u2014 CISLAC<\/h4>\n

\u00a0Speaking with Sunday Vanguard, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Rafsanjani, said Nigerians deserved evidence of transformation, not another anniversary of unfulfilled commitments.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cCertainly, we cannot describe a relationship built on fear, suspicion, intimidation and widespread allegations of extortion as a healthy police-civilian relationship. Six years after #EndSARS, many Nigerians, particularly young people, still see police encounters as potential threats rather than assurances of protection.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reported use of tear gas against citizens commemorating #EndSARS at Lekki today raises further concerns about respect for peaceful assembly. \u201cCISLAC maintains that the greatest tragedy of October 20, 2020, is not only the lives lost and injuries suffered, but also the continued failure to establish full accountability and restore public confidence.<\/p>\n

\u201cA police institution that citizens fear more than criminals has a serious legitimacy and accountability problem.<\/p>\n

\u201cGovernment must implement outstanding judicial panel recommendations, ensure justice for victims and end the culture of impunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Torture<\/p>\n

\u201cThere have been reform announcements and institutional adjustments, but Nigerians are entitled to ask: what has fundamentally changed on the streets?<\/p>\n

\u201cSARS was disbanded, judicial panels were established, police regulations were revised and training initiatives introduced.<\/p>\n

\u201cYet allegations of unlawful detention, torture, extortion, excessive force and extrajudicial killings continue. \u201cCISLAC insists that changing the name of a police unit without changing its conduct is not reform.<\/p>\n

\u201cReform must produce measurable results: fewer abuses, independent investigations, prosecution of offending officers, compensation for victims and improved police welfare.<\/p>\n

\u201cSix years is more than enough time for promises to become results. \u201cNigerians deserve evidence of transformation, not another anniversary of unfulfilled commitments.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0Coercion<\/h4>\n

\u00a0However, he noted that Nigeria had dedicated and courageous police officers, but institutional weaknesses and persistent allegations of misconduct continued to undermine public confidence.<\/p>\n

\u201cPoor welfare, inadequate equipment, political interference, weak supervision and insufficient accountability have complicated effective policing.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, none of these challenges excuses brutality or corruption. \u201cCISLAC is particularly concerned about allegations of indiscriminate arrests, unlawful payments at checkpoints, police involvement in civil disputes and intimidation of innocent citizens.<\/p>\n

\u201cPolicing must move from coercion to service, from intimidation to public cooperation and from impunity to accountability.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe police must stop treating citizens as subjects to be controlled and start treating them as rights-bearing people to be protected.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe demand independent civilian complaints oversight, stronger internal discipline, improved personnel welfare and enforceable sanctions against abuse.\u201d<\/p>\n

State police<\/h4>\n

\u00a0Speaking on the need for state police, considering the current policing challenges in Nigeria, Rafsanjani, who is also Head of Transparency International Nigeria, said: \u201cState police is relevant, but decentralising police powers without decentralising accountability could create 36 additional centres of political intimidation.<\/p>\n

\u201cNigeria\u2019s security challenges require more effective local intelligence, community participation and faster responses to crime.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, state police must never become private security organisations for governors or weapons against political opponents, journalists, protesters and vulnerable communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cCISLAC supports a properly regulated state policing framework with independent recruitment and oversight commissions, constitutional human rights safeguards, transparent funding and clear restrictions against political interference.<\/p>\n

\u201cState policing must also be subject to independent investigations and judicial accountability.<\/p>\n

\u201cNigeria needs policing closer to the people, not armed institutions closer to political power.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout these safeguards, state police could reproduce the very abuses that triggered #EndSARS.<\/p>\n

\u201cSix years after #EndSARS, Nigeria must choose between accountable democratic policing and the continued misuse of security institutions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sacrifices associated with #EndSARS must not be forgotten, and the 2027 elections must not become another opportunity for security agencies to violate the rights they are sworn to protect.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a02020 demands largely unmet \u2014 Global Rights<\/h4>\n

\u00a0On his part, Executive Director of Global Rights, Abiodun Baiyewu, lamented that the demands of the protesters remained largely unmet.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cAs we commemorate the sixth anniversary of #EndSARS, we invite the Nigerian people, government, especially the Presidency, and security forces to pause and reflect on this tragic incident in which at least 135 protesters were extrajudicially killed across the country during the #EndSARS protest.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is worrisome that six years after this tragic event, accountability that is commensurate with the gravity of the atrocities committed is still elusive.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe demands that brought Nigerians to the streets in 2020 remain largely unmet, and the pattern of impunity has persisted.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the more recent incident of the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests, Global Rights documented the killing of at least 31 protesters by police across several states and the arbitrary arrest of 1,135 protesters, including children as young as 13 years old.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo date, there has been no accountability for these killings either.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven more worrisome is the fact that this trend is unrelenting.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince that incident, Global Rights has recorded at least 545 extrajudicial killings by security forces across the country.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe repression and continued use of excessive force against protesters, the killing of citizens exercising their constitutional and fundamental human rights, and the continued brazen impunity for security personnel responsible for such violations further expose the hollowness of claims that the grievances that gave rise to #EndSARS have been adequately addressed.<\/p>\n

ECOWAS judgment<\/h4>\n

\u201cThe #EndSARS protests were a nationwide demand for an end to police brutality, unlawful arrests, extortion, torture, and the impunity enjoyed by security personnel. \u201cWearied by colonial brutality against citizens and having endured decades of the savagery of military juntas, Nigerians were hopeful that under a democratically elected government, their rights would be respected and that they would be treated with dignity by the security force that is funded by their taxes to protect them.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter two decades, realising that change was not forthcoming, they took to the streets to demand a transparent police force that respects the rights of citizens and is not a continuum of the colonial regime or military dictatorship.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we soberly reflect on the Lekki Toll Gate incident, we are reminded that these acts of impunity are a stark demonstration of Nigeria\u2019s failure to value and protect the lives of its citizens.<\/p>\n

\u201cNigeria\u2019s perennial insecurity is fast eroding the bonds that bind its people together.<\/p>\n

\u201cIts intractable hydra-headed extremism is driven and sustained by this trust deficit.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn order to extricate the nation from this vicious cycle, the government of Nigeria must urgently do the following: immediately implement the ECOWAS Court judgment on the Lekki massacre.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe further demand that the Lagos State Government publicly account for its response to the Judicial Panel of Inquiry\u2019s recommendations, specifying what has been implemented, what remains outstanding, and the steps required to give effect to the recommendations it accepted.<\/p>\n

\u201cSix years ago, we promised to stand with the victims and their families, however long it takes for the arc of the moral universe to bend towards justice for them, and indeed every citizen of Nigeria.<\/p>\n

\u201cGlobal Rights has not reneged on this promise.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe remain standing in solidarity with all those who continue to demand an end to police brutality and the right of citizens to protest.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe honour the courage of those who stood up and keep standing for their rights and reaffirm that no state institution is above the law.\u201d<\/p>\n

Citizens-police relationship deeply affected by mistrust \u2014 ActionAid<\/h4>\n

\u00a0Reviewing the matter, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), Dr Andrew Mamedu, said the relationship between the police and the people remained highly unfriendly.<\/p>\n

His words: \u201cSix years after #EndSARS, the relationship between the Nigerian Police and citizens remains deeply challenged by mistrust, fear and unresolved questions of accountability.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Lekki Toll Gate incident remains a painful reminder of what happens when institutions established to protect citizens are accused of turning their weapons against them. \u201cThe reported use of tear gas against citizens commemorating the anniversary today raises further concerns about how the police respond to peaceful civic expression. \u201cPublic relations campaigns alone cannot restore trust.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey must earn it through respect for human rights, professionalism, and accountability.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Nigerian Police must understand that citizens are not enemies of the state, and demanding accountability is not a crime.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0Reforms<\/p>\n

Mamedu, however, noted that some reforms had been implemented in the police force since the #EndSARS protests.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe police have undergone some institutional and policy reforms, including disbanding SARS, introducing new operational regulations, and efforts to strengthen police professionalism\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, the real question is whether these reforms have translated into meaningful changes in everyday experiences.<\/p>\n

\u201cReports of extortion, arbitrary arrests, excessive use of force and other forms of police misconduct continue to raise concerns.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe must move beyond reforms that exist only on paper.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe must measure police reform by citizens\u2019 safety and dignity, not by the number of policies announced.<\/p>\n

\u201cSix years after #EndSARS, Nigerians deserve clear evidence of accountability, justice for victims and a policing culture that prioritises human rights.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Officers<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cThe Nigeria Police operate under difficult conditions, including inadequate resources, operational pressures and serious security challenges.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany officers continue to serve professionally and make enormous sacrifices to protect communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, these challenges cannot justify misconduct or violations of citizens\u2019 fundamental rights.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe recurring complaints of harassment, extortion, brutality and abuse of power require urgent institutional attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to shift from a culture of force and intimidation to one of service, community partnership, and accountability.<\/p>\n

\u201cA police officer should represent safety, not fear.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe true measure of effective policing is not how much power officers exercise over citizens, but how effectively they protect their lives, rights and dignity.\u201d<\/p>\n

State-controlled<\/h4>\n

On the issue of state police, the AAN boss asserted: \u201cThe conversation around state police is both relevant and necessary, particularly given Nigeria\u2019s complex security challenges and the limitations of centralised policing.<\/p>\n

\u201cDecentralised policing could strengthen local intelligence, improve response times and bring security institutions closer to communities. \u201cHowever, there are legitimate concerns about the possibility of governors and political actors using state-controlled police formations to intimidate opponents or suppress dissent.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ongoing constitution amendment process presents an opportunity to address these concerns through proper institutional safeguards.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe must not decentralise police power without decentralising accountability.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny state police framework must guarantee operational independence, transparent recruitment, independent oversight and strong protection against political interference. \u201cOtherwise, we risk reproducing at the state level the same abuses Nigerians have been demanding an end to at the federal level.\u201d<\/p>\n

Weed out bad eggs from police \u2014 Faro<\/h4>\n

Lending his voice, human rights lawyer Idris Faro said: \u201cThere are bad eggs in every organisation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe police must continue to weed out the bad eggs and discipline them appropriately.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Nigeria Police has improved in the way they relate with the people since the violent #EndSARS protest, which led to the loss of lives on both sides.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvidently, there have been reforms since the nationwide protest, which turned bloody in some states.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe police have retrained their officers to be respectful in their relations with the people and be professional while suppressing public disorder.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe use of firearms is for self-defence and the arrest of violent armed criminals. They shouldn\u2019t fire tear gas at peaceful protesters.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was reported to have happened at the toll gate at the sixth anniversary. It is wrong.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the elections approach, law enforcement officers must work to ensure that we have free and fair elections by providing security for all before, during and after the elections.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey must bring the full weight of the law to bear against persons and politicians who resort to violence to further their goals. Law enforcers, as the term connotes, work for the law only.\u201d<\/p>\n

Six years after, we demand evaluation of policing \u2014 Odheke<\/h4>\n

Similarly, another human rights lawyer, Toluwa Odheke, called for a thorough evaluation of the Nigerian policing system six years after the #EndSARS protests.<\/p>\n

Odheke said: \u201cNigeria\u2019s policing system must be evaluated against a simple constitutional proposition: The police exist to protect the public, enforce the law and safeguard the rights of every person, not merely to maintain the authority of the state.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe events at the Lekki Toll Gate remain a reminder of the grave consequences that may follow when the use of force, public accountability and the protection of fundamental rights become matters of institutional controversy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe continuing importance of that incident lies not only in the question of what happened on 20 October 2020, but also in the lessons that must be learned to prevent comparable failures in the future. \u201cNigeria has introduced relevant reforms, including the Police Act 2020 and the 2025\u20132026 police regulations.<\/p>\n

\u201cNevertheless, legislation and administrative directives must be accompanied by effective implementation, independent oversight, transparent investigations and appropriate consequences for proven misconduct.\u201d<\/p>\n

Power<\/p>\n

On state police, he argued:<\/h4>\n

\u201cState police may offer advantages in local responsiveness and community engagement, but it must be designed to prevent political capture, discrimination and competing centres of unaccountable coercive power.<\/p>\n

\u201cDecentralisation without accountability would merely relocate existing problems.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the country prepares for the 2027 general elections, the responsibility of security agencies is particularly clear. \u201cThey must protect voters, candidates, electoral officials, journalists and observers impartially before, during and after polling.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey must not intimidate citizens, obstruct lawful political activity or become instruments for manipulating electoral outcomes.<\/p>\n

\u201cGovernment should therefore make police accountability a measurable institutional priority, not simply a political commitment.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe relevant test is whether citizens can report abuse safely, whether complaints receive impartial investigation, whether victims obtain effective remedies and whether officers who commit offences are held accountable under the law.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ultimate measure of police reform is not the number of policies announced, units renamed or regulations issued.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is the extent to which the Nigerian people can trust that the law protects them equally, that the police will respect their rights and that no person is above the law.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is the standard by which the legacy of #EndSARS should be assessed, state police should be designed and the conduct of security agencies during the 2027 general elections should be judged.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nigerians don\u2019t trust Nigerian police \u2014 Onoja<\/h4>\n

Human rights activist Patrick Onoja asserted that six years after the #EndSARS protests, the relationship between the Nigeria Police Force and Nigerians remained strained.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cSix years after the events of 20th October 2020, I would describe the relationship as one still burdened by mistrust, apprehension and an unresolved demand for appropriate sanctions for proven violations and effective remedies for victims.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe #EndSARS protests did not emerge in a vacuum.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey reflected years of public frustration over allegations of brutality, extortion, arbitrary arrests and abuse of police powers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Lekki Toll Gate incident became a defining moment in that crisis.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnder Chapter IV of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, citizens enjoy fundamental rights to life, dignity and personal liberty.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe police are not above these guarantees. Their responsibility to enforce the law must be exercised within the law.<\/p>\n

\u201cA police institution cannot effectively protect a population that is afraid of it. Trust cannot be restored through official statements or commemorative events alone. It must be earned through consistent professional conduct, transparent investigations and accountability\u201d.<\/p>\n

Visible<\/h4>\n

Onoja said the Nigeria Police Force remained one of the country\u2019s most visible and important security institutions, with officers operating in difficult circumstances and often confronting serious crimes with inadequate resources.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cNigeria Police Force remains one of the country\u2019s most visible and important security institutions.<\/p>\n

\u201cOfficers operate in difficult circumstances, often confronting serious crimes with inadequate resources.<\/p>\n

\u201cI acknowledge and commend officers who perform their duties professionally and courageously, sometimes at considerable personal risk.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, acknowledging their sacrifices must not prevent us from confronting institutional shortcomings in funding, training, accommodation, equipment, welfare and internal discipline.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are also persistent public concerns about alleged extortion and abuse of authority, which must be investigated fairly and thoroughly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe police-civilian relationship must be built around policing by consent, the understanding that legitimate law enforcement depends not only on legal authority but also on public confidence and cooperation.<\/p>\n

\u201cYears after #EndSARS, Nigeria must move beyond commemoration to addressing the institutional problems that made it a turning point.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe loyalty of every police officer must be to the constitution and the law, not to the personal interests of any politician.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need a police force that is adequately equipped, professionally trained and properly supervised, and an accountability system that protects citizens from abuse.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe enduring lesson of #EndSARS is that security without accountability threatens freedom, while accountability without effective security undermines public safety. Nigeria must pursue both.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vanguard News<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

The post #EndSARS: Cry of justice for victims louder six years after<\/a> appeared first on Vanguard News<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Source: <\/p>\n

Vanguard News<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Gabriel Ewepu As Nigerians commemorated the sixth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests on Wednesday, October 20, civil society organisations (CSOs) and lawyers said the issues that triggered the protests… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1018,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1017","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1017","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1017"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1017\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1018"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1017"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1017"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1017"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}