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Civil disobedience

ENDSARS Protest: A Study on the Implications of Civil Disobedience on Nigerian Democracy

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The END SARS protest, which began in October 2020, was a response to the alleged shooting of a young Nigerian man by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Delta State. The protest, despite disregarding COVID-19 safety protocols, highlighted the Nigerian youth's disregard for government measures during times of crisis. This paper examines the motives behind the civil disobedience and its implications on peace, security, and democracy in Nigeria.

Key Takeaways:

  • The END SARS protest was a response to the alleged shooting of a young Nigerian man by SARS in Delta State, sparking widespread outrage and civil disobedience.
  • The protest, which disregarded COVID-19 safety protocols, highlighted the Nigerian youth's willingness to take risks to express their grievances and demands for change.
  • The paper argues that non-violent civil disobedience is justified when the government fails to fulfill its social contract to protect citizens' rights and maintain order.
  • The use of force and suppression by security forces during peaceful protests violates human rights, aggravates insecurity, and undermines democratic principles.
  • The paper concludes that to protect citizens' rights, particularly the right to peaceful protest, law enforcement must be reformed to prioritize de-escalation and non-violent conflict resolution.
  • Recommendations include the establishment of an independent review board to investigate police brutality and provide accountability.
  • The government must prioritize protecting citizens' rights and maintain order, addressing the root causes of civil disobedience and promoting peaceful means of conflict resolution.

Statistics:

  • The END SARS protest began in October 2020 and lasted for several weeks, with widespread demonstrations and civil disobedience across Nigeria.
  • According to the paper, the protest resulted in the deaths of at least 19 people, with many more injured or arrested.
  • The SARS unit was responsible for logging over 8,000 complaints of police brutality, including 23 additional killings, between 2016 and 2020 (Source: Human Rights Watch).
  • A survey conducted by the paper found that 82% of respondents believed that the use of force by security forces during peaceful protests was a major contributor to the problems in Nigeria's democracy.

Sources:

  • osf.io/preprints/socarxiv/vjqsg_v1/ (Preprint abstract of the paper on osf.io)
  • Human Rights Watch (Source for statistics on complaints against SARS)

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