End SARS: A Turning Point in Nigerian Activism
Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, recently characterized the 2020 #EndSARS protests as the inception of “irresponsible protesting” in Nigeria. He asserted that prior to #EndSARS, protests in the country were organized, but the movement introduced a shift towards unstructured demonstrations.
Bwala also contended that the #EndSARS protests were marred by misinformation, particularly from international media outlets like CNN, leading to exaggerated narratives about the events. He acknowledged missteps by law enforcement during the protests but suggested that external influences exacerbated the situation.
The #EndSARS movement, which lasted over 14 days in 2020 across major Nigerian cities, demanded the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a division of the Nigerian police known for its brutality, extrajudicial killings, and corruption.