Photo credit: Paul Becker/Becker1999

Missed it? You can still view the recording of livestream on the videos tab of the Royal African Society’s Facebook page. 

Join the Royal African Society and the Nigerian Leadership Initiative for a discussion on #EndSARS and what is next for the movement.

This October, enormous numbers of Nigerians decided that they had had enough. After years of abuses by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) – an increasing number of which have been captured in video footage – thousands took to the streets in towns and cities across the country. They marched, demanding that the government dismantle the police unit notorious for targeting, extorting and sometimes even killing civilians.

Within a few days, the police announced that it would abolish SARS. However, having heard this promise several times before, the mostly young protesters kept up the pressure. Organised in a decentralised manner without clear leaders, the movement has continued ever since despite attacks by police and groups of armed men.

In this event, co-hosted by the Royal African Society and Nigerian Leadership Initiative, a range of panellists will discuss #EndSARS and what is next? How unique and unprecedented is this movement? Why has it emerged now? How might the situation develop? And what can Nigerians in the diaspora do to ensure the right conversations and recommendations are put forward to allies, such as the UK government, for them to consider how they can support the aspirations of the movement.

Format:

12:00: Panel 1: What does #EndSARS mean for human rights and political mobilisation in Nigeria?

–  Kate Osamor, MP – Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group for Nigeria

–  Bulama Bukarti – Human Rights Lawyer, Senior Associate, CSIS

–  Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto

–  Chioma Agwuegbo, Convener, #StateofEmergencyGBV

13:00: Panel 2: What happens next, in Nigeria and abroad?

– Chi Onwurah, MP – Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group for Africa (APPG)

–  Idayat Hassan – Director, Centre for Democracy and Development – West Africa

–  Samson Itodo, Executive Director, Yiaga Africa and Convener, Not too Young To Run

–  Edwin Ikenna Madu – Content Creator

This event will be live-streamed via Zoom. To register, follow the link below. 

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