‘We won’t forgive, we won’t forget’, #EndSARS protesters’ continued cry for justice

The popular adage ‘Time heals all wounds’ may not apply to most Nigerians, as October 20, 2022, is a date that has left an indelible mark on their hearts. That day was when the #EndSARS protests in Nigeria culminated in a massacre. It was the day Nigerians protesting against police brutality and bad governance were shot at, and brutally repressed by their government.

According to Amnesty International, at least 12 people were killed in the #EndSARS protests, and dozens were injured, including at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos on 20 October.

And although various live stream videos of soldiers shooting at protesters were released, the army and Nigerian government have continually denied claims that anyone was killed at the Lekki tollgate.

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Two years down the line, many Nigerians that participated, supported, and sympatised with the #EndSARS demonstrations are still pained, aggrieved, and disappointed at how the government handled the situation and the aftermaths of that protest.

And as the second anniversary of #EndSARS is marked on Thursday, some of the youths that were part of the protest reminisced on the brutality they suffered and witnessed, with the propaganda of the government and army over the atrocities and killings meted to the protesters. They described how it changed them and how they now feel about it two years after.

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Popular actor and social media influencer, Debo Adedayo, a.k.a Mr. Macaroni, who was one of the people brutalised by the police during one of the EndSARS protests, told AF24NEWS that government should seek sincere reconciliation by ensuring that justice is served to victims of police brutality.

Adedayo said that he might never forget or forgive the police for the way they mocked, tortured, and arrested him for staging a one-man protest at the Lekki Tollgate. “I might never forgive the police, and I will definitely not forget what they did to me. Absolutely not. Maybe I might forgive them when I get justice because the group of officers that tortured me and others is known and they are still in the police force today. And they have not cared to apologise to me or other Nigerians, maybe because they feel they don’t need our forgiveness.”

Emmanuel Ogbaje is another #EndSARS participant that feels sad every time he remembers the 20th October incident. According to him, there has been no sense of accountability from Nigerians over the killing that happened in Lekki. Ogbaje decried the government’s nonchalance in addressing the injustices and impunity unleashed on the youths that filed out against police brutality.

“As a Nigerian youth that was part of the protest, I feel emotional anytime 20th October comes around. From 2020 up till today #EndSARS experience still haunts,” Ogbaje said.  “I feel bad because we haven’t gotten any sense of justice for the victims of the EndSARS protests. Many Nigerian youths were killed by the Nigerian security operative, and some evidence exposed that yet the government still keeps lying about what they did in Lekki.

“We’ve watched documentaries by CNN, VICE News, and other investigative reports that revealed that the Nigerian armed forces as well as the Nigerian police, killed youths at the tollgate. Also, there is evidence of bullets with serial numbers traced to the Nigerian Army. All these point to the fact that the killing actually happened. But up to date, the Nigerian government has not done anything to give us some sense of justice.

“The #EndSARS panels setup across achieved nothing in addressing the injustice. The only report that even came close to addressing the situation was the Lagos panel. What about the other panels across the country nothing tangible was heard from their report.

“It’s been two years since after EndSARS, but till now we still don’t have justice, we are still being brutalised by police officers. Many youths are languishing in various correctional facilities just for protesting against police brutality and impunity. We can’t allow the government to whitewash history. and that is why up to date and forever, the Lekki Tollgate would remain a controversial place because of the bitter memories it carries. So looking back at that incident still makes me unhappy and angry with the government today.”

However, Mr. Ogbaje agreed that the #EndSARS also recorded a few positives that cheers his heart, “One thing that I can say that makes me happy about the #EndSARS was that it awoke the minds and spirit of the youths.”