FREEDOM FRIDAYS - #ENDSARS

Over the past couple weeks, young people in Nigeria have been protesting police brutality in a way that is reminiscent of the way that young people here in America have been. The issues facing the Nigerians with regards to police brutality, however, are different than those facing #BlackLivesMatter protestors here and across the world. There is a specific police force being protested in Nigeria called SARS, which stands for the Special Anti-Robbery Squad. Since being formed in 1992, they have been plagued by controversy and scandal due to their mistreatment of Nigerian citizens. Particularly concerning are the rampant claims of brutality leveled against the squad, ranging from harassment, to rape, and even murder. Most commonly, young people with expensive cars or other items are profiled by the squad and falsely accused of robbery. They are then imprisoned, beaten and even worse. Protestors had been holding peaceful demonstrations daily, but this week things took a turn for the worse when some were killed by men in camouflage uniforms who many believe to be military. Read more to see videos about this as well as how to help.

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