The impact of Social Media #EndSARS Nigerian Youth Activism for Police Accountability in Nigeria

Texte Universitaire , 2022 , 23 Pages , Note: 4.50

Médias / Communication - Multimédia, Internet, Nouvelles Technologies

This article reveals how Nigerian youths reacted to the tragic shooting of a Nigerian man by agents of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a unit of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), in Delta State, Nigeria. Between November 2017 and October 2020, series of vibrant online and physical protests organized under the hashtag of #EndSARS campaign was staged against the operation of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for their abuse of power which indicates police brutality in Africa’s most populous country.

Thus, this article examined the factors that led to the outburst of the #EndSARS protest as a strategic means for seeking police accountability, that represent the youths capacity to plan, organize, execute, assemble and persuade the Nigerian Government to act and the impact of the mass action on policing and law enforcement in Nigeria. The methodology postulated for this study consists of a qualitative analysis of tweets between September 11 and October 11, 2020.

ABSTRACT

This article reveals how Nigerian youths reacted to the tragic shooting of a Nigerian man by agents of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a unit of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), in Delta State, Nigeria. Between November 2017 and October 2020, series of vibrant online and physical protests organized under the hashtag of #EndSARS campaign was staged against the operation of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for their abuse of power which indicates police brutality in Africa’s most populous country. Thus, this article examined the factors that led to the outburst of the #EndSARS protest as a strategic means for seeking police accountability, that represent the youths capacity to plan, organize, execute, assemble and persuade the Nigerian Government to act and the impact of the mass action on policing and law enforcement in Nigeria. The methodology postulated for this study consists of a qualitative analysis of tweets between September 11 and October 11, 2020. The findings revealed the various strategies Nigerian Youths used to shape the activism against police brutality and influence the Government’s decision to eradicate the SARS Unit of the Nigeria Police Force.

Keywords: Protest, Social Media, Activism, SARS, Nigeria.

Introduction

Since the innovative inception of digitalization in the modern world, especially in Africa, the use of social media as a means of communication has found expressions in political, economic and social aspects of humans engagements. Social media has gained so much admiration amongst individuals due to the available means of self-expression, interaction and communication, especially on Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. This is because pictures and videos allow others to glance into users' everyday lives, interests, and personal experience. The use of social media has aided social groups and campaigns to survive in the dissemination of information and communication in the world of today. It has also impacted the dissemination of government communications, decisions, and policy making processes through their various official handles on social media platforms.

In respect to the phenomenon of the Nigerian youths #EndSARSprotests, which was organized to protest against police brutality and call for conscious policy and policing reforms in the country, social media platforms specifically twitter, was maximized by the youths’ in Nigeria to vibrantly protest both online and offline against police brutality that consequently persuaded the Nigerian government decisions in its security and social policy making. This phenomenon called for rigorous academic debate in regards to the efficacy of social media platforms as tools that citizens can maximize to influence government policies and decision making processes in Africa and in other countries in the world.

This paper aims at bringing up intelligent discussions regarding the instrumentality of social media in initiation, coordination and implementation of social mobilization and campaigns towards influencing government policies and advocating for good governance. With specific reference to the Nigerian youth #EndSARS peaceful protests, the study attempts to explore the power of citizenry in Africa, through the use of social media platforms, to agitate for social, economic, and political transformations within a polity in a peaceful manner.

Drawing critical insights from the efforts of Nigerian youths on the strategic use of social media, this study engages from sources from social media and news reports to understand and explain strategies and mechanisms to influence government policies and decision making through practical usage of social media in the age of digitalization.

Nigerian youths #EndSARS protest: A brief background

The case of Nigeria’s #EndSARS draws attention to the problem of police brutality and perpetrations by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit of the Nigeria Police Force in Africa’s most populous country in particular to the issues of police high-handedness, brutality and errings in Nigeria led to the outburst of the protest both online and offline to seek police accountability and the impact of the mass action and consequences of the EndSARS campaign. Despite the fact that there are different institution channels such the public complaints bureau within the police public relations office, social media handles, police service commission and the police public complaints telephone hotline numbers are available to lodge complaints on police brutality in the country, there is a diverse skepticism among Nigerians that the police authority would not bring its personnel to book for committing professional perpetration as the Nigerian Police Force lacks accountability. Specifically, (Peak, 1997) stated that accountability in police officers is needed for eradicating corruption, imprudent use of force and improving the code of ethics in police departments. The US Agency for International Development (2018) sees police accountability as guaranteeing that police services and their personnel justify the law, respect the rights of the people, and do not engage in wrongdoings, malfeasance or corrupt behaviour.

The #ENDSARS awareness dates back to 2017 when the hashtag appeared on twitter before it gained global momentum in 2020 after SARS officials shot a young man, left him by the roadside and took his Lexus SUV in Ughelli Delta state, Nigeria, on October 3, 2020. The protest came to live after a tweet was made on a twitter handle disseminating information about the incident of the murder. The handler “@AfricaOfficial2” tweeted saying:

“SARS just shot a young boy dead at Ughelli, Delta State as we speak. In front of Wetland hotels. They left him dead on the road side and drove away with the deceased Lexus jeep. I have videos.”

The physical movement of the protest started in Lagos from where it actively advanced to other cities and states across the country. Prior to November 2017, organized and coordinated public protests against the Nigeria Police Force were very rare. Thus, the #EndSARS public protest was unprecedented and certainly represents a landmark in the Nigerian sociopolitical space (Ojedokun et al, 2021). The creation of the SARS in 1992 as a division of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) was seen as a welcome advancement by many Nigerians. The squad was originally set up by the law enforcement agency with the foremost authority of addressing the continuing problem of armed robbery that was confronting the then Nigerian capital city, Lagos (Nnaedozie, 2017). The track record by the first crop of officials of this specialized unit in the execution of their duties over time encouraged the spread of the operation of SARS to other States in Nigeria under the instruction to cover the arrest, investigation and prosecution of suspected kidnappers, murderers, armed robbers, hired assassins, and people involved in other violent crimes (Ojedokun et al, 2021). Adding to the context, the #EndSARS protest constituted major means through which citizens expressed their grievance(s). The #EndSARS protest is synonymous to the Black Lives Matter movement on police brutality in the United States of America. For instance, prior to #EndSARS protest in Nigeria during the month of october, the #blacklivesmatters hashtag was vibrant across various social media platforms to raise awareness for the deaths of breonna Taylor and George floyd who were both victims of police brutality as this was the case in Nigeria where Jimoh Isiaq was killed by the police during the EndSARS protest in Nigeria.

The two weeks of protest in Nigeria and including outside the media landscape of the country was informative with regards to discussions about digital activism and its productiveness in the internet age, as scholars explored the dynamics of symbolic activism (also referred to as clicktivism) and important action that includes public mobilization.

The Special Anti Robbery Squad was created for the purpose of tackling the issue of armed robbery and kidnapping in Nigeria. This unit has been criticized for losing its priorities for killing innocent citizens who are perceived to be perpetrators because of their appearances such as having dreadlocks, wearing crazy jeans and durags, and having earrings on among the male youths and also owning valuable assets like iPhones, cars, MacBook and laptops.

In spite of a few reported victims of police abuse with several investigations including previous attempts to reform the police by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo in 2018 which was aborted, the Nigerian government actions have been ineffective (Abimbade et al, 2021). Significantly, a major highlight of the protest was the demands for improved service conditions for police officers. While the Nigerian Police Force struggles to restore a positive representation in the country, the SARS unit has violated its own responsibilities committing abuses targeted to the Nigerian youth population. (Abiodun, 2020), who noted that the abuses perpetrated by SARS were due to absence of emotional intelligence, alcohol and drug abuse especially while on duty, the impeding cases of police reforms in the country and general corruption. SARS officers were generally accused of abuse of power, intimidation, framing up people who didn’t commit any crime, extortion, illegal arrest and extrajudicial killings. The male gender were major victims of the perpetrations of this erring officers as they were usually targeted if they are perceived rich based on their appearances. Some of these male victims are forcefully extorted by this officers to the extent that some are arrested and forcefully taken to automated teller machine (ATM) points to make cash withdrawals for them.

Digital mobilization & Fundraising

In times of mobilizing protesters within different states across the country and beyond to meet in different locations, social media played a very important role for the Nigerian youths to achieve these gatherings. Meetings were also called for in Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State; at multiple locations in Lagos State, including at the University of Lagos Front Gate (at 11:00am), Shitta Roundabout in Surulere (at 10:00am), and at Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge (4:00 a. m.) on multiple dates. Abuja youths were also mobilized on October 12 (at 6:00am) at Berger Roundabout and at the Unity Fountain on October 15 (by 7:00am) and in various cities and states in the country. Nigerians in diaspora also actively came out to protest in different cities and countries across the world. Information regarding assembly of protest grounds and mass mobilization were disseminated in the following tweets:

- @YeleSowore- There will be an #EndSARS March in Berlin, Germany on December 10. 2020. please if you live in Germany endeavour to attend! #RevolutionNow
- @bibzyCarter- Today, 24.10.2020. We held our #EndSars Protest in Gottingen, Germany. We stand with every Nigerian to demand good governance and say No to Police Brutality.
- @ECoolOfficial- CHANGE IS NOW!! Atlanta, Thankyou to EVERYONE that came out last minute and in the rain! #ENDSARS
- @Gbemisoke- #EndSARS Houston. Southwest Farmers Market parking lot. Bissonnet @ Centre Pkwy. 2pm. Let's go.
- @asount- Another round of peaceful protests this week in Dallas and Houston against the inhumane treatment of Nigerian citizens. #EndSARS October 21,2020 :
- Fox 4 News Station : 400 N Griffin St Dallas , TX 75202 @ 4pm
- October 24,2020: 9801 Bissonnet st Houston, TX 77036 @ 2pm
- @Cyndodo_- I am so proud of my Generation... see people showed up.. we literally filled the streets of Dallas.. #endsars
- @aireyys- I want to lead the #EndSARS protest here in London, who will join me? Nigerians in the Diaspora let’s not be silent #EndSARS #EndSarsProtests
- @OgbeniDipo- On 11/10/2020, alongside other young Nigerians, we led an #EndSARS protest in London, UK in solidarity with our fellow citizens back home in Nigeria. We deployed our resources, time, and money to make our voices heard. And indeed, the global media paid attention to #ENDSARS
- @ABUJAPLUG- #SARSMUSTEND Peaceful Protest in Abuja. Date: Monday, 12th October, 2020, Time: 6am, Venue1: Berger Roundabout (Under the bridge), Venue2: City Gate, Abuja
- @UnclePamilerin- If you are around Akoka or Yaba, we lend our voice today. 11am Unilag Gate. #Endsars #EndSarsProtest #EndSarsNow
- @vobevibes- Tomorrow 11AM Unilag gate. If you live around let’s do this together. Let’s lend our own voice to this menace that’s eating deep into our lives #ENDSARS
- @FakhuusHashim- There are protests in Jigawa on Monday in Birnin Kudu. #EndSARS

One remarkable aspect of the protest which is really commendable was how Nigerian youths were able to raise funds to keep the protest on going. Zald and Ash (1966), they asserted that fundraising is substantial for the encouragement of social protest as it is needed to carry out mobilizations and support its members. During the protest, social media served as a space as it aided the contributions and support which included first aid treatment, food packages for protesters and mobilization of funds especially through Twitter platform. One of the donors supported the movement with a donation of about N1,216,080 to eleven (11) protesters, while stating that they paid the hospital bills of three (3) protesters that were injured and donated to the family of a deceased protester, as well as providing other necessary supplies. He also noted that a total of N62, 643, 663 was raised out of which N13,026, 580 had been spent on the protest (Abimbade et al, 2021). Former CEO of Twitter, Jack Partrick Dorsey also facilitated the donation process by tweeting on his handle for the donation of bitcoin. He tweeted saying:

“Donate via #Bitcoin​ to help #ENDSARS”

The protest which was vibrantly active specifically on twitter with over 28 million tweets bearing the hashtag “#ENDSARS” led to the creation of the special emoji “a tight fist” in the Nigerian national flag colours (green, white and green). The emoji was created by Jack Dorsey the former CEO of Twitter.

Social media impacts

The relevance of social media in mass protest and activism is very substantial. Social media platforms like Twitter shape political participation, especially during demonstrations. Social media platforms make it possible for informations that are crucial to the execution of protest activities such as informations about turn out, medical services and legal support to be disseminated online as this was the case during the #EndSARS protest. In addition social media fosters the exchange of emotional and motivational contents in support of activism including messages portraying anger, concerns about accountability, fairness, justice and deprivation. Nevertheless, the use of social media has been connected to the spread of political protest in many cities around the world, including Kiev, Moscow, Ankara, Istanbul, Cairo, Tripoli, Madrid, Athens, Los Angeles, New York, Hong Kong, and Ferguson, Missouri. Noticeably, political protest itself is far from new, but the fact that it is possible to access real-time accounts of protest behavior documented and archived through microblogging (e.g., Twitter) and social media (e.g., Facebook) websites is a recent phenomenon. Indeed, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a protest that does not have its own distinctive hashtag on Twitter (e.g., #OWS 5 Occupy Wall Street; #Jan25 5 protests in Egypt; #direngeziparkı 5 protests in Turkey; and #Euromaidan 5 protests in Ukraine), and it is easy to connect these hashtags to message content, user metadata, and social networks (Jost et al, 2018). (Shirky, 2011) concluded that as the communications landscape gets denser, more complex, and more participatory, the connected population is gaining more access to information, more opportunities to involve themselves in public speech, and an enhanced ability to undertake collective action. (McGarty et al, 2013) asserted that social media usage largely contributes to an acceleration of processes that normally occur much more slowly.

With the advent of social media as an alternative form of mass communication, people can disseminate information freely and diversely as this was the case during the #EndSARS protest. Also, the Nigerian Police Force were able to disseminate it’s press release and activities during the protest. The citizens were also able to disseminate information on social media with specific interest in trends on police brutality and digital mobilization. (Carty, 2015), who propounded that social media aids the quick dissemination of information and mobilizes the public for physical protests. Social movement coordination that want to mobilize for a mass street demonstration make substantial use of the internet to enhance arrangements and mobilization endeavors (Van Laer and Van Aelst, 2010). Nigerian youths have become more politically aware and primarily depend on social media to air their views, express, seek, receive, communicate and disseminate information. Particularly, to a new era for political struggle with many Nigerian youths protesting against police brutality. Citizens have delivered strong criticisms towards the government using actual protests and social media at the same time. This has been attained by support across the country and beyond the media landscape of Nigeria as sustained and crucial political activism has been engendered by developing strong ties and relationships on social media with internet users from different geopolitical spaces across Nigeria. During the protest, many online protesters developed alliances by disseminating circumstances surrounding the protest across various states in the country such as venue of the protest and the time to assemble for the protest. Also, friendships developed among netizens by requesting follow-backs, retweeting their business posts and making donations. Social media has been a very important medium of communication for people to discuss and advocate for good governance in society as this was the case during the #EndSARS protest among Nigerian youths. The democratic nature of social media made it possible for the Nigerian youths to vibrantly discourage police brutality especially when public needs are not met. This was demonstrated in the engagements the Nigerian youths had on Twitter using the hashtag “#EndSARS” to call against police brutality and seeking police accountability.

Methodology

This research was essentially a case-study analysis of the vibrant #EndSARS online and offline protest against police brutality and high-handedness in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country. Data was primarily sourced from twitter where the movement started online and media reports on the subject matter. The Twitter Advanced Search was used to search and filter out tweets that contain keywords or hashtags indicating the activism. The hashtag considered in the search include #ENDSARS, #SARSMUSTGO, #ENDPOLICEBRUTALITY, #ENDSARSNOW, and #SARSMUSTEND. These tweets also produced words and phrases such as protest, celebrities, police brutality, corruption, bribery and freedom. Although the #EndSARS protest finally climaxed in the city of Lagos from where it spread to other states and cities in Nigeria between 3 October and 23 October 2020, the inception of the movement dates back to 2017 when the hashtag first appeared on Twitter. Thus, conscious attempt was made to also cover the events and circumstances that eventually led to the outburst of the October 2020 mass protest. Categorically, news reports on the activities of #EndSARS protesters, the reaction of the Nigeria Police Force and its personnel to the protest, as well as the response of the Nigerian government to the public protest and the demands of the protesters was carefully searched, filtered, read and analysed.

[...]

• Université: University of Lagos (Department of Mass Communication)
• Cours: Communication studies
• Note: 4.50
• Auteur: Adegboyega Daniel Eniola (Auteur)
• Année de publication: 2022
• Pages: 23
• N° de catalogue: V1336698
• ISBN (PDF): 9783346840585
• ISBN (Livre): 9783346840592
• Langue: anglais
• mots-clé: Activism, SARS, Nigeria, Protest, Social Media