A new generation of Nigerians has distinctively identified themselves with the manthra ‘Sorosoke’, which means ‘Speak louder!’.
This term was made popular as Nigerian youths protest the systemic failure of the central security operative, the Nigerian Police Force, especially through one of its units, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a body carved out of the force in late 1992 to deal with crimes associated with robbery, vehicle theft, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and firearms.
With #EndSARS, the youths have been able to successfully create a movement that is focusing the world’s attention to the country. Among their many of demands in saving their country from corruption, the youths simply request for the outright ban of the SARS, a controversial division known for oppression and brutality.
And as world leaders, opinion shapers, politicians and notable celebrities home and abroad continue to stand in solidarity with the call, a former governor in Ogun State has also added his voice.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel stated that he was excited as he believed the country is currently going through a rebirth.
“I am now excited that our country after this rebirth will be great again and we will once again be proud of the green passport that once upon a time do not require a visa to enter the UK and other commonwealth countries. Am I speaking loud?” OGD said.
The protests started as a social media campaign using the hashtag #ENDSARS to demand for the Nigerian government to end the deployment of SARS and between October 9 and 11, 2020, the #ENDSARS hashtag had up to 28 million tweets.
Nigerians have continued to shared both stories and video evidence of how members of SARS engaged in kidnapping, fail to wear face coverings, murder, theft, rape, torture, unlawful arrests, humiliation, unlawful detention, extrajudicial killings, and extortion in the country, while the governments race to restore normalcy.
Freelanews is the editorial byline of Freelanews.com, used for staff reports, news updates, press releases, and collaborative stories produced by the Freelanews Editorial Team.
