Human Rights Violations and Accountability: A Case Study of the EndSARS Movement

Abstract

The EndSARS protests in Nigeria that broke out in October 2020 brought to the fore the issues of police brutality and systemic abuse by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). Through this paper, an attempt is made to investigate accountability and justice mechanisms put in place post-protests through governmental investigations, international reactions, litigation against perpetrators, and the challenges often associated with the realization of justice. Some of such governmental responses have been the setting up of the judicial panels of inquiry in many states—one of the most swift being the extensive hearings and testimonies at the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry. Effectiveness has been mixed, despite such efforts, due to interference by political interests, lack of cooperation by law enforcement agencies, and issues around transparency. International human rights organizations and foreign governments have provided an important role in galvanizing the abundance of abuses internationally and impressing the Nigerian government with pressure for active policing. Legal actions against perpetrators have been slow, with serious obstacles like witness intimidation and systemic bias in judiciaries. Civil society organizations have also been involved in documenting abuses, providing legal representation to victims, and calling for broader accountability from other stakeholders. However, the involvement of civil society has been pushed to the fringes by intimidation and harassment from the government. Further, the broader implications of the EndSARS movement on human rights in Nigeria demand the call for a security sector that should be undergoing comprehensive reforms with expansive accountability mechanisms in place. The paper concludes with recommendations for strengthening these judicial panels, reforms, civil society support, and international collaboration to ensure that justice and human rights are obtained in Nigeria. These will lead Nigeria into the future with human rights respected and accountability being the norm, with justice served to all citizens.