A HISTORY OF MASS PROTESTS IN NIGERIA: CAUSES AND EFFECTS
Nigeria’s protests against police brutality already were the
largest in the country’s history before security forces opened fire on a crowd
in Lagos on October 20, 2020. The protest and bloodshed only heightened the
need for the government in Africa’s most populous country to end the pattern of
violence by security forces against civilians.
Leaders must finally acknowledge that this brutality has
fueled violent extremism. How the Nigerian government will respond to citizens’
insistent demand for accountable governance will influence similar struggles for
democracy, accountability, nonviolence and stability across much of Africa.
But the Nigerian government response to these legitimate
expressions of outrage has mostly been dispiriting.
Nigeria is facing a fundamental crisis of governance that
reflects a rising set of demands among its young generation, demands shared by
youth elsewhere in Africa. And the government’s response is certain to resonate
across the continent. With 200 million people, a growing population expected to
exceed that of the United States by 2050, Nigeria is the undisputed regional
hegemon and has been the decisive force behind the regional bloc, the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Nigeria’s strengths, demographic, economic and military, confer
upon it the chance, and a responsibility, to lead in West Africa
Nigeria’s leaders should now see the popular demands for
accountable and responsible governance, and a real, rather than superficial, overhaul
of all sectors, as an opportunity to make meaningful reforms.
Mass protests against unacceptable government policies in Nigeria well predates the 1960 independence. Nigerians had long before independence revolted against colonial governments policies and rules. In most case the colonial governments had been forced to bend to the demands of the people. There were also instances of casualties as some have been martyred in the course of these mass actions.
The first major mass action against government was the Aba
Women's Riot of 6 December, 1929. The women protested against tax levies
imposed by the colonial government. The Aba Women's Riots of 1929 was a period
of unrest in colonial Nigeria over November 1929. The protests involving women
from six ethnic groups (Igbo, Ibibio, Andoni, Ogoni, Efik, and Ijaw) broke out
when thousands of Igbo women from the Bende District, Umuahia and other places
in southeastern Nigeria traveled to the town of Oloko to protest against the
Warrant Chiefs, whom they accused of restricting the role of women in the
government.
It was organised and led by the rural women of Owerri and
Calabar provinces. The protests involved 'sit-in' by the women. During the
events, many Warrant Chiefs were forced to resign, and 16 Native Courts were
attacked, most of which were destroyed. It was the first major revolt by women
in West Africa. In 1930 the colonial government abolished the system of warrant
chieftains, and appointed women to the Native Court system.
The Abeokuta Women's Revolt in November 1947 followed. The
women protested against an unfair tax regime which led to the abdication of the
then Alake of Egbaland, Oba Sir Ladapo Ademola II and the abolition of the tax
regime by the colonial government.
The Abeokuta Women's Revolt (also called the Egba Women's Tax Riot) was a resistance movement led by the Abeokuta Women's Union (AWU) in the late 1940s against the imposition of unfair taxation by the Nigerian colonial government. The women of Abeokuta believed that, under colonialism, their economic roles were declining, while their taxes were increasing. They argued that until they were granted representation in local government, they should not be required to pay taxes separately from men. As a result of their protests, four women received seats on the local council, and the taxation of women was ended.
The Muritala/Obasanjo military government had imposed a nationwide
A 50 kobo increase in student feeding costs nationwide. This was roundly
rejected by students nationwide.
The resultant 1978 Ali Must Go Protests or the 1978
students' crisis were student protests in Nigeria following the increase in fees. It has been described as
one of the most violent student agitations in Nigeria and sparked the greatest
political crisis of the 1975–1979 Mohammed/Obasanjo military administration.
After a week of nationwide protests, the Federal Military
Government shut down all universities and advised the students to go home.
Three universities were shut indefinitely, and National Union of Nigerian
Students (NUNS) was proscribed.
Though the increment was not reversed, the ‘Ali Must Go’
protest legitimised the power of Nigerian students as it conveyed to the
military government, the ability of students to mobilize across the country and
carry out effective agitation and force change. The protest also helped to
further mainstream student unionism as a national discussion.
The Mohammed Commission of Inquiry was established to
investigate the underlying issues that led to the protests, the persons
involved and to make necessary recommendations. The report was submitted to the
government, following which some staff of the university and students were
dismissed.
Segun Okeowo, the leader of the students was expelled from
the University of Lagos for the role he played in the protests. He however
graduated from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) two years
later with a bachelor's degree in education. Okeowo died on January 28, 2014,
aged 73.
The Anti-SAP riots of
24 May - June1989 occurred as a
result of the effects of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)-imposed
Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) introduced by the Ibrahim Babangida-led
government,
The riots were a series of violent student-led
anti-government protests that occurred throughout Nigeria between May and June
1989. The protesters included students, non-students, employed workers, the
unemployed and school children.The protests commenced on 24 May 1989.
A SAP relief package was designed to provide relief to the
masses and proved successful in dousing the agitations. The components of the
package included creation of 62,000 jobs as unemployed graduates were
instructed to report to ministries for prompt employment and funds were made
available for the employment of teachers.Feeding programmes for the poor and
transport relief packages were also created. Import duties on vehicles and
vehicle spare parts were removed as a result of the riots.
Students were given ₦500 bursaries in order to cope with the
effects of SAP. It is estimated that about $1 billion was spent on the SAP
relief measures.
Barely a year after between March and May 1990, there were nationwide protests in response to a proposed $150 million university restructuring loan from the World Bank which mandated the closure of some university departments. This was met with stiff response from the military government.
The antiSAP riots were deemed successful as the Military President,
Ibrahim Babangida, called for elections in the wake of the protests
The June 12 1993
protests occurred as an aftermath of the annulment of the June 12, 1993
Presidential elections by Ibrahim Babangida.
Presidential elections were held in Nigeria on 12 June 1993,
the first since the 1983 military coup ended the country's Second Republic. The
elections were the outcome of a transitional process to civilian rule
spearheaded by the military ruler, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. The unofficial
result of the election, though not declared by the National Electoral
Commission (NEC), indicated a victory for Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola of
the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who defeated Bashir Tofa of the National
Republican Convention (NRC). The winner of the election was never declared as
the elections were annulled by Babangida, citing electoral irregularities. The
annulment led to protests and political unrest, including the resignation of
Babangida and a weak interim civilian government which culminated in the
continuation of military rule in the country with General Sani Abacha ascending
to power as the military head of state via a bloodless coup later in the year.
The Occupy Nigeria protests of 2-14 January 2012 occurred in
Nigeria and the diaspora. Nigerians protested against the removal of fuel
subsidies and eventual price hikes by the Goodluck Jonathan government. It led
to the reinstatement of the subsidy and a review of the Federal Government
spending.
Occupy Nigeria was a socio-political protest movement that
began in Nigeria on Monday, 2 January 2012 in response to the fuel subsidy
removal by the Federal Government of President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday, 1
January 2012. The protests took place across the country, including in the
cities of Kano, Surulere, Ojota in Lagos, Abuja, Minna, and at the Nigerian
High Commission in London. The protests have been characterised by civil
disobedience, civil resistance, strike actions, demonstrations and online
activism. The use of social media services such as Twitter and Facebook was a
prominent feature of the protests. The protests laid the foundation for the change
of government in 2015.
Post Occupy Nigeria and 2015, the Nigerian Government under the new president, Muhammadu Buhari have increased fuel prices from N87 to N145 with little resistant possibly due to the fact that most of the proponents of the Occupy Nigeria groups were involved in the new government.
The January 2012 protests have been described as well
managed by the Jonathan government.
End SARS 2020: Nigerians,
home and in the diaspora, the protested against police brutality meted out by a
now-defunct special police unit known as the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
End SARS, widely written as #EndSARS, was a decentralised
social movement and series of mass protests against police brutality in Nigeria
that mainly occurred in 2020. The movement's slogan called for the disbandment
of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a notorious unit of the Nigerian
Police known for its long record of abuse against Nigerian citizens.
SARS officers were alleged to profile young Nigerians,
mostly males, based on fashion choices, tattoos and hairstyles. They were also
known to set up illegal road blocks, conduct unwarranted checks and searches, make
arrests and detain without warrant or trial, rape women, and extort young male
Nigerians for driving exotic vehicles and using laptops and iPhones. Nigerians
shared stories and video evidence of how SARS officers engaged in kidnapping,
murder, theft, rape, torture, unlawful arrests, humiliation, unlawful
detention, extrajudicial killings and extortion of Nigerian citizens. A large
number of the victims of the abuses of SARS were young male Nigerians.
The protests originated from a Twitter campaign in 2017,
using the hashtag #EndSARS to demand the unit's disbandment by the Nigerian government.
The movement experienced a resurgence in October 2020 following further
revelations of the unit's abuses, leading to mass demonstrations across major
cities in Nigeria, and widespread outrage on social media platforms. The
hashtag #EndSARS accumulated over 28 million tweets on Twitter alone. Solidarity
protests and demonstrations by Nigerians in the diaspora and sympathizers
occurred in many major cities around the world. Notably, the movement was
predominantly led by young Nigerians and expanded to include demands for good
governance and accountability, amidst unprecedented hardship in the country.
Within a few days of protests, on 11 October 2020, the
Nigerian Police Force announced the dissolution of the unit with immediate
effect. The move was widely perceived as a triumph for the protesters. However,
it was noted in many quarters that similar announcements had been made in recent
years to placate the public without the unit actually being disbanded, and that
the government had merely planned to reassign and review SARS officers rather
than disband the unit entirely. Protests continued and the Nigerian government
maintained a pattern of violent repression, including the killing of
demonstrators. International demonstrations in solidarity with those in the
country occurred, and the movement also grew increasingly critical of Muhammadu
Buhari's government response to the protests.
Following violent escalations which included attacks by
agitators against both protesters and police, the governor of Lagos State,
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, declared a state-wide 24-hour curfew effective 4:00 PM WAT
on 20 October. During this time, images of some persons alleged to be working
with the Lagos State Government and the Lekki Concession Company removing
cameras (later confirmed by the Lagos State Government to be laser cameras and
not CCTV cameras as earlier publicized on social media at the toll gate
circulated on End SARS on X and street lights at the toll gate vicinity were
turned off.
A few hours later, it was reported that armed men of the Nigerian Army arrived at the scene of the protest and opened fire on peaceful and unarmed protesters, thereby resulting in a disputed number of deaths. A clip of the shooting videoed by a brave Nigerian youth, DJ Switch, trended on the Internet showing how live round of bullets were being shot at innocent protesters who crouched on the ground, holding hands together and singing the Nigerian National Anthem.
There were also reports that at least 50 other people were injured. However, the Lagos State government later reported that the shooting resulted in up to 25 injured and only 2 dead. Despite the fact that the curfew was extended till 9:00 PM, soldiers of the Nigerian Army reportedly started shooting before 7:00 PM.
Following the killings on 20 October, video evidence showed
that more shootings were still being carried out by the Nigerian Army and the
Nigerian Police on the unarmed protesters. Some people also attacked and burnt
buildings, vehicles, TV stations and raided the Oba of Lagos' palace.
The governor of Lagos had said that there were no casualties
from the incident of the previous day but later tweeted that there had been
reports of one casualty which negated the report sent in by various Twitter and
Instagram users who had live recordings of the killings. While the protesters
gathered again at the Lekki toll gate where the shooting took place on Tuesday
20 October, they were forced out by police
About seven people were reportedly killed within 24 hours
since soldiers opened fire at protesters in Lagos. Authorities did not deny
carrying out a crackdown, but refused to claim the deaths as of 21 October
2020. Brutality by the police forces made the protesters more angry
intensifying the scale of the protests.
On Thursday, 22 October, it was reported that armed men
began shooting at protesters in Oyigbo, Port Harcourt. The attackers allegedly
broke into homes, killing people inside, and then torching down properties.
The August 1 protest planned nationwide against hunger and bad governance began today across the nation. The organisers and the police, the lead security agency, have held their positions as the former insisted on a street procession, while the latter maintained its stance of having the protest confined to designated spots.
The government had tried all tricks in the books to stop the
protest, including propaganda, threats and sponsoring groups and individuals to
speak against the protests.
The former Niger Delta freedom fighter, Mujahid
Asari-Dokubo, warned organisers of the protest to desist from coming to Niger
Delta.
Dokubo-Asari said the agenda of those behind the protest do
not capture the problems of the people of the Niger Delta.
While daring them to come to the oil and gas-rich region, he
said they would be resisted, alleging that they were merely interested in the
resources coming from the Niger Delta, describing them as ‘anarchist.
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, urged all
groups planning to participate in the proposed nationwide protest to submit
their details to the Commissioners of Police in their respective states. He
stated this was to ensure the protest remains peaceful.
Some hired ‘Say No To Protest’ demonstrators have lamented
they were left stranded after being used for a pro-government rally in Abuja. In
a video posted online, disgruntled President Bola Tinubu’s supporters whined
about being stranded without food and water.
Protesters, portrayed as representing Nigeria’s 36 states, gathered at Eagles Square on Monday, holding ‘Say No To Protest’ placards to support the government’s stance on the #EndBadGovernance protest over worsening hardships in Nigeria.
“Tinubu said they should call us to give us support and that
he doesn’t want protest. He said he would give us support. We are here very
early in the morning, no food no water, the drivers were left stranded without
being paid,” one of the hired protesters said.
When asked if they would now join the nationwide protests
expected to kick off on Thursday, the women said, “Yes, we will join the
protest.”
Spokespersons Bayo Onanuga and Ajuri Ngelale for Mr Tinubu’s
government did not immediately respond to requests for a
comment on the allegation.
However, top government personalities, groups, and religious bodies, including the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Muslim Student Society of Nigeria (Lagos chapter), and the Muslim Rights Concern, have called for the protest to be shelved, citing a palpable fear that it might be hijacked by infiltrators who do not mean well for the country.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has however come under heavy criticism for taunting those calling for protest over the economic hardship in the country.
Living costs spiked in Nigeria after President Bola Tinubu
ended the fuel subsidy and eased foreign exchange controls after coming to
power in May last year.
Inflation hit record levels at 34.19 per cent in June, with
food inflation more than 40.87 per cent, according to the National Bureau of
Statistics.
Speaking at an event organised by the Niger Delta
Development Commission (NDDC) in Rivers state on Tuesday, Akpabio said those
interested in the protest can go ahead “but let us be there eating”, adding
that he was not interested in any “regime change”.
“Those who want to
protest can protest, but let us be here eating…”
This has infuriated some social media users who criticised Nigeria’s number three citizen.
Reacting to the comments made by the Senate, some Nigerians took to social media to berate him.
On the first day of the protests, reports gathered by afternoon indicate the protests have been mostly peaceful, a clear departure from predictions from some quarters that they were going to be bloody.
This was in most part
due to cooperation and maturity between the law enforcement agencies and the
protesters.
Watch out for:
AKPABIO AND OTHERS: INSENSITIVITY AND RECKLESS SPEECH IN NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT
Only in THE KALEIDOSCOPE MAGAZINE kaleidoscopenigeria.blogspot.com
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