We are in the midst of a nationwide outcry for change. The pain and anger over the incessant and unwarranted arrest of youths by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has culminated in some of the largest demonstrations that Nigeria has seen in recent years.

The force and its rogue unit has subjected young Nigerians to wrongful profiling, heightened surveillance, extortion, suppression and even murder. This disregard of fundamental human rights is what a democratic country should never tolerate.

And now in 2020, this suppression of our core liberties is being resisted by the nation’s teeming youths. Five major demands have been made to the government in order to promote actionable change. They are:

  1. Immediate release of all arrested protesters
  2. Justice for all deceased victims and appropriate compensation for their families 
  3. Setting up an independent body to oversee investigation and prosecution of all reports of police misconduct 
  4. Psychological evaluation and retraining of all disbanded SARS officers before they can be redeployed
  5. Increase police salary so that they can be compensated for protecting lives and properties of citizens 

Also, the killing of peaceful and unarmed protesters and the arrest of some others, a travesty in itself, is a reflection of the rot at the center of the Nigerian police practices and why the organisation must be reformed in totality.

As a fast growing media and PR agency founded by a Nigerian youth, with youths at the heart of its operations; GLG stands with our colleagues and partners, families, friends and everyone in Nigeria passionate about seeing the end of police brutality.

It’s also why today, GLG is pledging a financial contribution to the Feminist Coalition, a not for profit initiative created by a group of Nigerian feminists fighting against the injustice of SARS through peaceful protests, fundraising and social media organisation. Our donation is towards their efforts in supporting peaceful protests across the country, legal and medical aids for those who have been wrongfully arrested and subjected to various forms of police brutality.

Want to lend a hand? There are several ways to do so:

  1. Educate – Clearly educate people about the ongoing crisis.
  2. Amplify – Tweet, Retweet, Repost. Use all your social platforms available to you and help increase awareness.
  3. Get Involved – Use your skills, knowledge or profession to help in whatever way you can. Resist the “I Don’t Care Attitude” and do something to help people in whatever capacity that you can
  4. Donate, if you can – Donate funds, medical supplies, food, water and anything else that might help. If you would like to donate, there are several ways to do so, and other organizations focused on putting an end to police brutality in Nigeria. Here are two of such, you can also research to find out more genuine organisations that are helping:
  • Feminist Coalition – Click https://feministcoalition2020.com to see how to donate
  • Gatefield Impact – The Gatefield Impact is collating donations for journalists covering the SARS protests in the North. Read more and see how to donate HERE.

Let us be dedicated to supporting each other during this time with the goal of emerging stronger and more united as a nation. Together, we will effect change.

GLG Communications.