Two Nigerian labour organisations have renewed calls for justice for victims of the 2020 #EndSARS protests, demanding compensation for those injured or detained and families of people killed during the demonstrations.
SaharaReporters reported that the Workers’ Rights Campaign (WRC) and the Socialist Workers League (SWL) made the demands in separate statements on Tuesday, marking six years since nationwide demonstrations against police brutality and abuses associated with the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The organisations called for an independent investigation into the killings, a public apology from the Federal Government and the implementation of recommendations issued by state judicial panels of inquiry. They also urged Nigerian youths and workers to sustain campaigns against police brutality and poor governance.
The SWL, in a statement signed by its National Chairperson, Kelvin Ayemhenre, and Deputy National Secretary, Lekan Abdulazeez Soneye, said victims of the crackdown and their families were still awaiting justice. It maintained that some victims had not received compensation for injuries or unlawful detention, while families of those killed remained without redress.
The group called for an open inquiry involving trade unions, civil society organisations and affected communities to identify those responsible for attacks on protesters. It also acknowledged the efforts of lawyers and activists, including members of the Take It Back movement and EndSARS United, in securing the release of people arrested during and after the demonstrations.
The WRC, meanwhile, argued that the limited involvement of organised labour had weakened the protests’ capacity to challenge the government, urging workers and young people to build stronger alliances. Its statement, signed by Chairperson Frances Akinjole and Secretary Bàbá Ayé, called on young workers to join trade unions, organise in their workplaces and hold union leaders accountable.
The campaign also cited the cancellation of a planned general strike in September 2020 as an example of the need for organised labour to play a stronger role in mass movements. It urged workers to link the struggle against police abuses with campaigns over economic hardship and governance.
The #EndSARS protests erupted in October 2020 following widespread complaints about police brutality and the conduct of SARS. Demonstrations spread across the country, with protesters demanding the unit’s disbandment and broader police reforms. The shootings at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos on October 20, 2020, became one of the most prominent and disputed episodes of the crisis.
The WRC and SWL said the failure to fully implement judicial panel recommendations and provide compensation to affected people remained a major concern six years after the protests. Both groups called for renewed public mobilisation to press for accountability and redress.
