#EndSARS protesters consider tactical changes in face of state clamp down

• Our Leaders Are Deceased Victims of Police Brutality
• Full-blown militarisation of FCT underway
• Disruptions in traffic may continue
• Accuse traditional media of parroting regime propaganda
• FCT group denounces pro-government protesters

NOTWITHSTANDING the increased militarisation of the streets of Abuja, and the risk of violent attacks from elements they described as government-sponsored thugs, #EndSARS protesters in the nation capital have vowed to continue with the push to end police brutality and ensure good governance in Nigeria.

To minimise the risks in the face of pressure from the state, the protesters have been adopting tactical changes to avoid a full blown confrontation with the military.

Several active protest participants who spoke with Naija Times noted it was expedient for the movement to adopt smarter strategies in order to stay out of harm’s way, while continuing to voice their concerns about the rot in the country’s policing system as well as the absence of good governance.

As at Tuesday morning, the protesters tactically avoided the city centre in the capital as they stayed away from their usual protest points around the AYA Roundabout, the CBN building and Apo Roundabout.

Nonetheless, intense protest activity was reported in Dutse Alhaji, a suburban town in the capital.

A journalist, Ruth Tene narrated that she got stuck in the gridlock caused by the protesters at Dutse Alhaji.

She said: “I met with them at Dutse Alhaji, which is usually my way out. The road is blocked; they banged on my car so much that I am still shivering.”

The tactical adjustment is not unconnected to the ongoing militarisation of the streets of Abuja with fierce looking soldiers taking position in strategic positions and often using whips to break up gatherings.

However, while the soldiers deployed by the Federal Government have been mounting a show of force in the capital, the #EndSARs protesters have made their presence felt in the outskirts of the city.

On how protesters can minimise the risk of being on the streets in the face of the onslaught by the authorities, a protester and Executive Director of the Hip City Innovation Hub, Bassey Bassey called for fresh strategies to realise the protest goals.

He said: “The Asymmetric nature that the peaceful protest has taken calls for deeper reflection, tactics and change in strategy. So far the youths have demonstrated that they can leverage on technologies for human mobilizations and organising, resource mobilization, medicare, online radio for coordination etc.

“With all that is happening, now more than ever is a time for protesters to leverage on technology to call on the President to a live-town hall meeting that will be aired across protest grounds for open negotiations. The launched online radio must be decentralised and run in indigenous languages to counter messaging and deradicalize the minds of the miscreants who perhaps cannot think for themselves, and are burdened with religious nuances that do not build their social consciousness to demand accountability from their leaders especially in those parts of Nigeria where poverty, illiteracy, ignorance and religion has been weaponised to trigger free thinking”.

Bassey called for messaging that promotes the development of self and nation, free thinking in indigenous languages must be pushed out through all digital means sms, voice messages etc.

He stressed that the messaging must be such that work on the reasoning of those involved in committing acts of violence against protesters.

“Why are the children of the sponsors not on the street fighting and killing, why are our roads death traps, why are our schools not prioritized, yet all their children are in ivy league schools. Technology must be deployed in such a coordinated manner that certain basic services that the state has failed to provide are catered for in the areas of E-learning, health etc funded by the Nigerian youth, if this succeeds then 2023 the consciousness of the Nigerian populace would be built up to reject leaders who have no proven track record of impeccable public service or private business,” he said.

Also, the protesters have accused traditional media outlets of parroting government propaganda aimed at discrediting and demonising the protests.

This position was made known by the announcer on the #EndSARS online radio, which has been churning out content to inform and galvanise protesters.

The presenter who did not identify himself called on protesters not to be deterred by unverified content being published by traditional media outlets to discredit the protests.

Naija Times monitoring of programming on the online radio on Monday evening and Tuesday morning indicated that the protesters see the #EndSARS protests as the beginning of what would be wider issues relating to accountable governance in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, a group claiming to represent natives of the Federal Capital Territory, which yesterday threatened to “engage” protesters, except they vacate the streets of the capital has been disowned by the Original Inhabitants Development Association of Abuja (OIDA).

It would be recalled that on Monday, a group of youths claiming to be speaking on behalf of FCT expressed their displeasure against the #EndSARS protests, just as they called on the Inspector-General of Police to clear all protesters from the streets.

However, in a statement released today and signed by OIDA President, Pastor Danladi Jeji, the group denounced the pro-government protesters, noting that they are not members of OIDA or formally known to its organs.

“They have no mandate from OIDA, as the umbrella body of natives, or the indigenous people of FCT to stage such a protest against the widely acclaimed and nationwide-endorsed protests against police brutality. Though these two organisers (of the pro-government protests) are FCT natives with rights to individual freedom of speech and movement but since they do not have the mandate of OIDA or any backing by majority of the indigenous people of FCT, we hereby strongly condemn their misrepresentation of the struggle of the FCT people. The media should treat the anti-#EndSARS protest as an isolated event and not colour it as having the endorsement of FCT natives.”

OIDA therefore expressed its support for “all agitations for the good governance, justice and welfare of all Nigerians, including #EndSARS, as long as such protests are done in an atmosphere of civility, respect for the rights of others to join or not to join such agitations within the context of obedience to the rule of law.”