By Josmat Jerry
The 20th of October massacre together with other activities that surrounded the much-recent #EndSARS campaign has been pulled on halt. A passionate protest which was envisioned to turn the hands of the nation’s clock, called for a well-defined recognition of low-class inhabitants and the much-needed change for a better life. Following the drama and the sad turn of events that rounded off the protests, it’s been a quiet aftermath from the SARS unit and campaigners (youth). What does this silence imply?
On a dire need of positive change, the holistic yearnings for a better nation with the police brutality and a call for its complete reformation as an emblem of the motion. There is a need to review the incidence and play back loads of scenario that took place together with their efforts later on. The silence active parties who played lead roles in the struggle can be termed to numerous descriptions in reference to individuals’ variables in perception.
However, to put a check on how the #EndSARS campaign through its blood bath high note erupted into a scene of total silence, some notable questions have to be answered. The injustice and abuse of human right actions by the police unit, has it really been curtailed and nailed to a permanent stop? Rings of cries for an uplift in standard of living via creation of employment opportunities, protection lives and property by both internal the security forces together with other betterment of life, are they now in place?
Going back to that ‘Black Tuesday’ killing, which stylishly led to a sudden stop of the protest, the fear of that night was what birthed the zip that sealed the voice of youths. Till date, much of what was requested during the peaceful campaigns are still left unattended with a knowing ignorance and complete attention to rubbishing the digits of lives that were reported to have been shot dead that bloody night. The silence of youths of the nation is an ironical stance that will soon resurface.
Also, in between the first and second week of the #EndSARS movement, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) announced the disbandment of the FSARS squad with a note of its reformation which implies building of a replacement. Two days later, he again announced in a statement he released stating a new squad – SWAT. It will spring in as a replacement of the disbanded SARS squad. The reaction of youth to this is a tale both young and old can tell of. Since the sudden stop to the #EndSARS campaign, its aftermath down to this present day has been silence from the SARS, FSARS or SWAT team.
Would one say that silence means the whole drama is a story that will go down unnoticed in the record books of the nation? Is the impact of the protest an experience to let go so easily? The lives of fallen heroes during the protest, valuable properties that got diminished, houses and families left to a negative sign, will there be no justice for these losses? The set panel of inquiry which is looking currently into the killings at the Lekki Toll Gate, what has the result been since its first sitting till date? Maybe it takes a long time to turn off a clear evidence. It’s been a visible silence since that 20th of October massacre.
Perhaps, it’s time we beat our last memory off from unconsciously forgetting matters that needs time-to-time yearnings. We really do let go of things in a dummy way. It’s clear to see that a lot of what occurred in October had been up folded by almost all as if nothing happened. A check on how much the government is meeting the demands made during the campaign by protesters should be checked through. As we know we possess a government that knowingly forgets its responsibilities for the people they serve, for the people that brought them into power and are responsible to.
On another angle, the silence might imply a deliberation from both parties in a separate form on how to restructure and restrategise their ways of action and ways of implementation. Youth might be on a talk to go through making their demands known in a well-balanced and organised manner which will not shape in an image of ‘hoodlums-like’. The police unit on the other hand might also be on a clear script on how to work and make things look much better.
Most importantly, it would be more of a drama if the mindset of youths is to come back in a more act of retaliation considering the way matters are being handled with little or no care to addressing their demands. The silence we currently witness and enjoy might come back in an opposite harsh way through a bloodier route. Nigeria is at the now experiencing a silence in disguise.
