Be prepared to testify! I know from previous experience that young Nigerians are often averse to giving evidence in a judicial setting. There is nothing to be afraid of. Especially in this situation where your testimony will be supported by a mountain of video evidence #EndSWAT
Start organising all your videos and pictures. Upload them to a cloud or email to yourself. Make sure you they have geolocation. Create voice memos of your experiences to aid your memory. #EndSARS
Have evidence that establishes you were there at said time and evidence that supports what you witnessed. If fellow protesters are attacked and they acted in self defence, this evidence becomes even more useful. #EndSARS#EndSWAT
Prepare to fight injustice and lies everywhere.
On the streets
In the media
Online
In the courts and
In the community #EndSARS#EndSWAT
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Without being presumptuous, may I make a proposal on how #EndSARS, #EndPoliceBrutality protest could continue and how progressive compromises on both sides are recognized without compromising momentum?:
I propose that as soon as the government arraigns those who shot at protesters in Surulere, Ogbomosho, Ile-Ife, Benin, Delta, Abuja etc, the protest stops blocking roads and volunteer marshalls assist commuters to pass while protesters retain their right to hold peaceful vigil.
If protesters are shot at anywhere, or there's evidence of betrayal of trust, the protest returns to its previous form until remediation takes place. This way, you provide incentive for compromise while demonstrating that our power is not without control.
I feel the need to remind us that our fight is not against individuals. It is against ideas, systems and cultures that have left us vulnerable and exalted themselves above our wellbeing. As such, winning the battle in the minds of Nigerians of all stature is paramount
It is high time we bin this narrative that people meeting with powerful people can sell your free will.
Meetings will happen. Backchanneling will happen. The way out of conflict is not victory, it is resolution.
If what they propose doesn't work, we move.
We are all Nigerian. Rich, not so rich, poor, powerful, not yet powerful, powerless, young, old etc. We will meet.
Nobody can shave your head via Zoom.
Policymaking is about consensus building. As such, people who haven't agreed yet can still talk.
When you are championing a movement against oppression, there's something I refer to as "The Moses Challenge". You have to look out for it and manage it. It's about balancing radicalism and gradualism.
Moses initially had an extreme reaction to seeing his people oppressed by the Egyptians. But he soon found out that his biggest challenge was getting the people he wanted to save to trust him. When he attempted to mediate a disagreement, he got hit with:
"Who made you a boss or judge over us? Are you planning to kill me like you killed the Egyptian?"
That accusation from his own kin shook Moses to his core. He had to restrategise.
My highlight of the #EndSARS Abuja protest yesterday: Spontaneous support across demographic lines
An older man in Super Eagles tracksuit parked his white Mercedes S500, got out & hailed us. Brought out his phone & followed, making amazing commentary about how humbled he was
This woman in her LR4 who I'm certain was headed somewhere else but then followed the protest in her car. Making trips back and forth to supply water and food. She became kabu kabu for protesters.
Then there were the shouts of encouragement from people on rooftops, standing on their balconies, in the streets, passing in their cars.
One father had his 3 kids come out and raise their fist while chanting. He was recording them with his phone.
Know your SARS history: The Special Anti-Robbery Squad was founded in 1992 by former police commissioner Simeon Danladi Midenda. The major reason SARS was formed was when Col. Rindam, a Nigerian Army Colonel was killed by police officers at a checkpoint in Lagos. #EndSARS
When the information reached the army, soldiers were dispatched into the streets of Lagos in search of any police officer. The police withdrew from checkpoints, security areas and other points of interest, some were said to have resigned while others fled for their lives
After months of dialogue the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force came to an understanding and official police duties began again in Lagos. The SARS unit was officially commissioned in Lagos following a ceasefire by the army after settlement.
Shall we create a thread that catalogues alleged police brutality incidents in Nigeria?
Please reply this tweet with any incident you have personally experienced, come across on your timeline or seen anywhere else on the Internet. #EndSARs#ReformPolice