I’m pretty sure nobody saw the #EndSARS protests coming. Since the 7th of October 2020, when Runtown and Falz announced a demonstration at the Lekki Toll Gate, the movement has spread like wildfire to every corner of Nigeria. Protests are springing up in almost every state and people are catching on to demand better for themselves.
To many of us, protesting is a new unexplored territory. The bulk of protesters have never experienced one and we’re really all just winging it. Still, the nationwide demonstration has changed our everyday lives in more ways than we know. Here are some of the ones we do know.
1. Waking up in the morning to catch up on the latest development
We’re all guilty of checking Twitter early in the morning. However, these days, checking your phone has a new urgency to it. Before you’re fully awake, you’re already checking the latest to see if the government have attacked protesters again or if they’ve announced some other ridiculous ban.
2. Trending #EndSARS with all your might
You know your life depends on it. Every tweet is an #EndSARS tweet. If you relax, small, it will drop from the trending list.
3. Feeling guilty for tweeting anything not #EndSARS
Every now and then, you see a hilarious tweet from abroad Twitter and you want to quote it with LMAOO but you remember that Chijioke’s father was made to wade through a river of corpses to find his dead son, after paying SARS N3m, so you jazz up and continue tweeting #EndSARS
4. Nigerians demanding better
Nigerians are not used to having the power. So everytime, you ask yourself “Wait, is this real? Are Nigerians really demanding better for themselves?”
5. Arguing with older people about why we protest
Very likely, you’ll cross paths with people who don’t agree with the protests (usually your parents). Now, you’re now a lecturer on the EndSARS protest, arguing with older people and showing them facts and receipts.
Read: The Awkuzu SARS Unit: Stories of Unbelievable Brutality
