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Nigerian comedian, actor, and activist, Debo Adedayo, better known by his stage name, Mr Macaroni has changed the mode for the #EndSARS anniversary protest to hold in Lagos State.
Best known for his Instagram comedy videos, where he plays the role of a sugar daddy, Mr Macaroni became active in the #EndSARS movement when police arrested him at the Lekki Toll Gate during the #OccupyLekkiTollgate protest.
TNG reports #EndSARS is a decentralised social movement, and series of mass protests against police brutality in Nigeria. The slogan calls for the disbanding of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a notorious unit of the Nigerian Police with a long record of abuses.
The protests which takes its name from the slogan started in 2017 as a Twitter campaign using the hashtag #EndSARS to demand the disbanding of the unit by the Nigerian government.
After experiencing a revitalisation in October 2020 following more revelations of the abuses of the unit, mass demonstrations occurred throughout the major cities of Nigeria, accompanied by vociferous outrage on social media platforms.
About 28 million tweets bearing the hashtag have been accumulated on Twitter alone, and solidarity protests and demonstrations by Nigerians in diaspora and sympathizers occurred in many major cities of the world.
The protests is notable for its patronage by a demographic that is made of entirely young Nigerians, and the movement has since expanded to include demands for good and accountable governance.
On Saturday 3 October 2020, a video showing a SARS police officer shooting a young Nigerian in front of Wetland Hotel, Ughelli, Delta State trended on the Internet. It was alleged that the police officers took away the young man’s vehicle – a Lexus SUV. The trending video caused public outcry on social media, especially on Twitter, with the #ENDSARS hashtag trending.
Just as the ENDSARS trend began on Twitter, on Monday 5 October 2020, another report surfaced of SARS officers killing a 20-year-old upcoming musician named Daniel Chibuike, popularly called Sleek in his neighbourhood. Sleek was said to be sitting in front of a hotel with a friend when the SARS officers approached them, prompting them to flee. According to an eyewitness, the SARS men pursued the pair, shouting “thief”, before shooting Sleek as they ran through a supermarket. His friend was arrested.
On Thursday 8 October 2020, nationwide protests on ENDSARS started after weeks of outrage and anger with videos and pictures showing police brutality, harassment and extortion in Nigeria. The protests were led predominantly by young Nigerians in different cities alongside many activists and celebrities.
Nigeria Police Force disrupted the protests in some cities, throwing teargas, using water cannons and shooting at unarmed peaceful protesters as seen in Abuja and Osun. This led to the death of Jimoh Isiaq in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
By Wednesday, 14 October 2020, the End SARS protests were still on-going with young people in different parts of Nigeria intensifying their calls for reforms and accountability in police operations.
On October 20 the Nigerian Army allegedly murdered protesters at the Lekki tollgate. The government and army deny these allegations till date.
Mr Macaroni is one of those planning a peaceful protest to commemorate the events that happened on October 20, 2020.
“It is impossible for us not to memorialize our fallen heroes. We will never ever forget. Innocent Nigerian citizens waved flags and sang till they were shot at, injured and killed. We must never forget. We’re rolling up in cars tomorrow to drive through the tollgate.
“We know their way, so a procession of cars is the safest option to minimize police harrassment. We will stay in our vehicles throughout. We have rides for people that need. Each and every one’s safety is very important so please let’s move together,” Mr Macaroni wrote on Instagram.