My Endsars Protest experience: Harassed by Men with Guns, Rescued by Women with hearts. -Sanni Inuwa Baba

Many Nigerians have stories to tell about the police brutality and extortions in most parts of the country on daily basis and others won’t get to, as they lost their lives. 

Many sad stories could only be read in the newspapers and on social media platforms as the police brutality continued unquestioned. 

The Endsars protests started from the social media before it reached the major streets of Abuja and Lagos, where youth came out in their numbers to demand and urgent reform of the Nigerian Police Force, an end to the Sars division, prosecute those found guilty and payment to victims.

When we joined the protest ground in Gana Street, Maitama with Aisha Yesufu and Ibrahim Morrocco before we were joined by Maurin and Florence Ozor, there were already a lot of youth gathered. It was planned that we would peacefully match to the Police Headquarters and present our demands.

When we started matching, we realized there was a new group waiting for us at the unity fountain, looking aggressive. We debated if we should boycott the normal straight road to the Police HQ or to continue moving forward. It was agreed that we should proceed but be wary. But because of our large number, we peaceful passed them. 

Just when we are approaching the Police HQ, near the Ministry of Women Affairs, we saw so many Police officers coming towards us with guns, sticks and heavy police cars. Knowing we were peacefully exercising our rights to protest, we continued marching until tear gas was thrown and the police charged and started beating. Immediately, we were all dispersed. 

After like an hour, some of the protesters decided to get their cars that were parked just opposite the Ministry of Women Affairs. I took Ibrahim Morroco and Gimba Kakanda in Aisha Yesufu’s car to get their cars. At the first check point,Gimba identified himself and we were allowed to proceed. Unlucky for us, the ones who stood by our cars weren’t friendly at. They initially told us to just keep moving but one of them who was in a mufti recognized Morroco and immediately ordered the other officers to hold us. He shouted that he knew him to be a friend of Aisha Yesufu. 

The one who held me whispered to me that I should give him something and we would be allowed to go. And I wasn’t sure what really happened but saw two police officer beating Gimba on the floor. With that, I was fully aware that we were together with the reason why we were protesting. The police who was holding me left my trousers shouting to Morroco. Surprisingly, Morrocco was so calm and responding to all their threats. That was when I used that opportunity and ran away. I could hear them saying “shoot him, shoot him” I didn’t even turn back. The only thing I saw was a huge stick that missed my head. 

I stopped by when I saw a TV crew from the AIT. They told me to sit down on the ground to catch my breath. 

To cut the story short, after informing other protests that the two young guys were held by the police, Oby Ezekwesili, Aisha Yesufu,  Maureen Kabrik and Florence Uzor went and made the rescue. Very brave.

In the police HQ, a police man looked at Gimba in his eye and told him that they would have ended our lives if it was in the night that they caught us.

Immediately we came back to our cars, we found out that the police men had used sharp objects to deflate out tyres. Both Aisha and Florence lost two tyres each.

In the midst of the terror, what they ladies were more concern of was the injuries we sustained especially Gimba, who was hit on his shoulder. We were taken to the hospital to be administered. 

Misunderstood politicians and those who never had the bitter experience thought it was a political action to overthrow the government. Others, in fair of the unknown saw it as a regional or religion affair and used their voices to silence many aggrieved Nigerians.