Thread by @heirmexxy

In 2004, before the proliferation of smartphones that made the internet ubiquitous, if you wanted to browse, you had to go to a cybercafe. Late that year, a childhood friend of mine was leaving Umuahia for Port Harcourt. #EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria #SARSMUSTEND

None of us had a phone then, so we agonized at the prospect of being cut off from each other. After a while, we hit on a bright idea; since I had an email and could browse, I could show him how to open and use an email. #EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria #SARSMUSTEND

So we planned all-night browsing at the few cyber cafes that offered the service in the city center, the only ones within 10 kilometers of where we lived. When we got there, the owners had capitalized on the shutdown of two of their competitors that week to double their prices.

Unfortunately, we didn't have enough money to pay for the service, so we headed back home. But there were no buses. So we began the long trek back home.

#EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria #SARSMUSTEND #EndBadGovernanceinNIGERIA

When we were almost home, we ran into the last police checkpoint that stood between us and home. The policemen stopped us and kindly informed us that they had received information that there were robbers along the road and that we should not risk our lives.
#EndSARS

Rather, we should stay with them till morning, then we would continue our journey. We thanked them and stayed.
The next morning, they woke us up and told us to get into the vehicle, that they were passing through our route. #EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria #EndBadGovernance

Wow, we were so amazed at how nice the policemen had been. We happily joined them in the Peugeot Station Wagon and the trip began. When we reached our location, my friend told them we wanted to alight and they covered his face with a very hot slap.
#EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutality

I was stunned with disbelief at what I was witnessing. That was how a 30-minute journey became nearly a week spent in a police cell nowhere near our houses, with no way to tell anyone where we were. #EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria #EndBadGovernmentinNIGERIA

We were locked up there till someone who knew my friend's mum was bailed and he told the mum where he saw her son. To cut the long story short, we had to be bailed with money. What was our crime?
#EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria #EndBadGovernanceinNIGERIA

The incident report stated that they saw us late in the night and we were sweating like people escaping from a crime scene. Really? What crime scene? Was anything found on us except pen and exercise books? No.
#EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria #EndBadGoveranceInNigeria

For the past few days, we have protested against police brutality, especially the SARS unit. #EndSARS has been a rallying cry for all of us, largely stoked by harrowing experiences of several Nigerians in the hands of the police unit that was set up to deal with armed criminals.

For those of us that are either alive or free to protest and demand #EndSARS, we should consider ourselves very fortunate. Some people have had their lives snuffed out, or are still in detention till today with no one knowing where they are till today.
#EndPoliceBrutality

When I and my friend were arrested in 2004, they wanted to intimidate us into signing a statement they had written. They threatened us that if we didn't sign it, they would make sure we rotted there. Thank God who gave us the courage to stand up to them. #EndSARS

If the #EndSARS protest has revealed anything, it is the fact that people can be arrested indiscriminately and trumped-up charges as grievous as murder slammed against them. #EndSars #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria #EndBadGovernanceinNIGERIA

#EndSARS has highlighted to all of us more than ever before that it is very possible to be arrested and detained and no one would know your whereabouts.
#EndSars #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria #EndBadGovernanceinNIGERIA

So while we demand #EndSARS, I think we owe it as a duty for all those whose lives have been ruined or ended by any division of the police to find those who may be rotten in prisons and cells without their loved ones knowing where they are. #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria

Beyond the #EndSARS campaign, I believe we have a rare opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people in illegal detentions and imprisonments, beyond those arrested during the course of the #EndSARS protest. #EndPoliceBrutality #EndBadGovernanceinNIGERIA

And that is why I want to use this opportunity to call for volunteers for Project End Illegal Detentions (EID).
#EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria #EndSARS #EndBadGovernanceinNIGERIA

The aim of the project is to ensure that nobody is illegally detained by pushing for enforcement of laws that make it compulsory for the police to log in all arrests prior to placements in cells. #EndSars #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria #EndBadGovernanceinNIGERIA

The project would also build a simple digital tool that cross-references the pictures of missing persons to pictures of arrested and detained people using facial recognition.
#EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria #EndBadGovernanceinNIGERIA

We would need volunteer web and mobile developers, lawyers, community organizers, social workers, media personalities, influencers. Please, kindly volunteer by filling this form here: forms.gle/NTsD8hTTcsza9m… #EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria #EndBadGovernanceinNIGERIA

All those who volunteer would be invited to a virtual co-creation event to be announced shortly. I believe that we can shine the light in one area where evil thrives in the dark. I cannot do it alone, but together, we can. #EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria #EndBadGovernance

@naijaflyingdr, @aishayesufu @omojuwa @mochievous @fkabudu @feminist_co @falzthebahdguy @asemota @jack @chxta @iaboyeji @mrmacaronii @mi_abaga @theoabuagada @adacampbell @aproko_doctor
#EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria #EndBadGovernanceinNIGERIA

@markessien @wizkidayo @adetolaov @bankyw @savvyrinu @henshawkate @stephaniebusari @kolaoyeneyin @chydee @ogbenidipo @olamide @mazigburugburi1 @naija_pr @sam_adeyemi @drjoeabah @kikimordi @tutsy22 @ruggedybaba

@threadreaderapp please unroll.

@markessien @wizkidayo @adetolaov @bankyw @savvyrinu @henshawkate @stephaniebusari @kolaoyeneyin @chydee @ogbenidipo @olamide @mazigburugburi1 @naija_pr @sam_adeyemi @drjoeabah @kikimordi @tutsy22 @ruggedybaba

@naijaflyingdr, @aishayesufu @omojuwa @mochievous @fkabudu @feminist_co @falzthebahdguy @asemota @jack @chxta @iaboyeji @mrmacaronii @mi_abaga @theoabuagada @adacampbell @aproko_doctor