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OCTOBER 10: A DAY YOUNG PEOPLE MARCH; END POLICE BRUTALITY!

Davy Fidel, Freelancer 


Following the erupted "#ENDSARS" protests that broke grounds in many communities, and also states across the country - days of the protests, where thousands of young people were on the streets protesting. Not only to scrab SARS, due to persons who had met death in the hands of Special Anti-robbery Squad. But for the government to provide jobs and good living for people. 

This spark also brings to mind the Endsars protest that took place in Ajegunle, a populated slum city in Lagos, where police brutality and extortion of young people and also abuse of democratic rights are of high record. The Campaigner via LIFEINSLUM was there to witnessed and covered this eventful story, a flame that touched the heavens and left a mark like tattoos on the chest of history. 

*****

It was on Saturday, October 10, 2020. Group of young people, in their numbers,  spontaneously gathered at a popular bus stop: "People's", Olodi Apapa, to protest #EndSARS. The protest was initiated by a talented young musician: "Vybez"; who reside in the community. By 10am, which was the official kick off, hundreds of young people had already gathered to March on.

Vybez, leader of the gathered youths, addressed them. "we must know" he said, "that we gathered here today to register our plight. We are tired of the way and manner, at which, SARS arrest youth in the community unlawfully." He continued, "we want ENDSARS now, because of the victimization of we as youth. We have suffered in the hands of SARS in different ways." 

Immediately Vybez finished his fireworks statement. The leaders of the initiated protest were of the view of making the protest stationery. But some of the youth called out for the action, disagree with the initiative. In fact, the agitation and uproar was that, they should march on.  March on to the various police post to register their grievance and lay their demands, black and white as it burns in their souls. 

According to information gathered, the leadership had held meeting with the top echelon of the police and some leaders of the "Ajegunle Youth Forum." The agreement was that the protest should be "stationery." That it is not going to exit the convergence point. That the protest will successfully begin and end at convergence point, which was the standing resolutions with the Vybez spontaneous leadership. 

But the protesters, whose spirit is red flame, very hot to melt any iron, chanted solidarity songs. They insisted on the leadership of Vybez to ignore the resolution of the stakeholder meeting held before the protest. That it doesn't fully explain why they should not protest the government using both the police and SARS to abuse their democratic rights, raid them and unlawfully charge them for committing crimes they never committed.

I personally that was there, was not only to cover the event but to participate, saw some socialists, belonging to an organisation named Movement for a Socialist Alternative, there at the protest ground. According to them, they said they were here to show solidarity and join in the protest. Also, to equally raised other working class demands, and at the same time, sharpen consciousness. 

Perhaps, according to one of them. He said, without marching on, the protest might not achieve what it has set out to do. Interestingly, with the pressing demand of the protesters on their leadership, to ignore the sugar coated words of the sent police officers and government spoke persons to the net protest. One of the socialist, went to speak with the leadership of Vybez, that he ust lead the agitated youth.

With this feature, it demonstrate in one hand, the weakness of a clear political leadership. Something that have always been a challenges in most radical movements. For like three hours or so - after some local media houses like "ApapaParrot" interviewed the organizers, on what were the issues, the demands and what to do? At the course of this event, the spoke person of MSA, Dagga Tolar, spoke when interviewed.  

"The MSA", he said "is in full support of the #EndSARS protest. Not only in Ajegunle but the entire boiling country." However, he continued, inasmuch, I (we) empathized with the protest as it is tearing grounds, importantly, he said. "it must be link to unemployment, pump price and electricity hike etc." He continue, "that the policies of the Buhari's led government has been largely responsible to the thick smoke every where, the ruling elites want to disperse with state repression."

Another of the socialist I saw, speaking with some youth, said, "very fortunate". He continued, "this has been the position of MSA, that the attitude of the labour leaders in the last suspended general strike of September 28, demonstrated the weakness of the leadership." He noted that the NLC, TUC should declare her support to the #EndSARS protest. Also, commence a day of action to support the demand: "the right of police men and women right to belong to a police union"

ROUTE

Before the kick off, police men from the Kiri-kiri Police Station, came in their numbers without armed to stop the protest. All the way, the route was from People's Bus-stop to Tolu post. Five hours March. The Kiri-kiri DPO and some youth leaders playing dual role, tried to melt the steady "boiling pot"  to end the protest, at the convergence point. But the protesters, who already had resolved moving on, ignored the political diversion presented by the AYF leadership of Ojobaro and march on.

There was huge support from people in the community. The protesters were able to march peacefully. Interestingly, the entourage of police men led by the Area Commander tries to stop the protesters at "Moshalashi" bus stop, but the organised youth in their thousands protest passed the police. They chanted "Tompolo, Walter". Names of the Tolu police post that has been leading illegal raiding and extortion to be removed. The socialist activists (MSA) distributed hundreds of their JOIN US leaflets. 

SHORTCOMING

Despite the shortcoming of the leadership, who at a point wanted to "bent the kneel" for the State authority and the dual stooges.  The  organised youth in their numbers were able to register confidence. They use the #EndSARS protest demand respect for their democratic rights. Consciousness was high and the thousands of youth who occupied the street, were confident that this assault on them and abuse on democratic rights must come to an end. 

The demands of the protest speaks volume of the organized agitation and consciousness on the placards that has: (I) End police Brutality Now! (II) IPhone no be Gun! (III) I am a crypto trader not a criminal! (IV) For a police union, now! End capitalism for a workers' government! (V) Dread locks and being fresh is not criminal! (V) Na Fresh I Fresh. I No Be Thief!  Why should an iPhone or a laptop be a step closer to my grave?  and among others.

After the brief addressed by the Area B Commander, ACPOL Olasoji. A, at Ajeromi Police Station. The protesters unanimously agreed to continue the march from Ajeromi Police Station to Tolu post, that is, among the police post that has the lives of "Tompolo, Walter" and others, the crowd massively demanded, the relocation of corrupt police officers perpetrating inhuman atrocities. Also, for extra-judicially killing to STOP.  

CONCESSION

The protest won some concessions. The Area B commander, ACPOL Olasoji. A, in his statement publicly said that "henceforth, no police officer will be allow to search people's phone again". He went on, "the officers, in the persons of 'Tompolo, Walter' and others, will immediately be transfer from the Tolu post, and will not be repost in any of the  police post in the council: Ajeromi Ifelodun LGA." 

Immediately, Mr. Olasoji assured the officers will be transfer, the crowd reacted and chanted in loud voices. "yes!  That is what we want." The crowd protested these men leading notorious raid, be brought publicly to ascertain the Area Commander assurance. They weren't sure of this. They raised their voices and demanded that he, ACPOL Olasoji. A, continue the march with them to Tolu post, to make the same public pronouncement.

Among the mammoth protesters. Some already agitated that "this is just the beginning. We are coming for electricity, lack of jobs, and other social welfare, the government has deny us access to." People who heard the above were triggered and replied, "yes! The time for disco don dey come! De crazy bills wey dem dey bring don too much." The Area Commander to publicly succumb to the pressure below, to transferred the corrupt officers, was an unimaginable victory. 

SUCCESS

The success of the protest recorded no bullet nor teargas was fired. The protest was successful. The resolved of the mammoth crowd was to end the unbearable harassment from the Nigerian Police Force. This success was born out from the way and manner, the youth and some of the socialists have helped to organize the movement. There was no single violence recorded. No doubt the protet had different battered faces. However, the anger were all managed. 

I, personally, saw the way the protesters moved in force away from Ajeromi Police Station. There were determined to see injustice on them, abuse on their democratic rights come to an end today. October 10 was a day hundreds, thousands of them shall live to speak about. The ordeal was firework for a lot of people, who took part in the protest march. Unemployed, women, artisans etc wanted to make history. Even when some military personnel wanted to assault the peaceful protest becoming violence. It was all adequately managed by the resolved youth. 

SOLIDARITY

Among all the community organizations, only the MSA I saw that I have few interaction with, was able to participate in the protest, right from the convergence to the end point. There was no other platform. The ones  I saw that came were government stooges, who are in the pay role of the politicians. They were there only to disrupt the protest. Stop the protesters from moving beyond the assembly ground. That was almost achieve. Not until, some of the youth disagree with the Vybez leadership and move on with the march. 

The protest sharpen the confidence of the youth. It made them to realize that the only way to earn freedom or get anything in the country is by STRUGGLE. This was the morale the socialists (MSA), in their various conversation, speeches made the march achieve, against the drown leadership. Their words as solidarity, lifted up the spirit of the gathered youths. It made them, I mean, the protesters, look into the eyes of police brutality, #endsars and say today is our day to say end ABUSE OF OUR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS! 

The socialists who spent all the day under the hot weather, organising, talking and leafleting people; used October 10 also to say some few political statement at the protest ground. In their distributed leaflet they said, "capitalism can no longer take society forward. It can't change itself but will require us as working people to get organize under a socialist idea and programme" to end poverty and unemployment, stinking all over the country. Their solidarity paid off at the struggle via the circulation of their handbills. 

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