A human rights activist #EndSars frontliner, Dabira Adeyinka, has lamented that six years after the protests, little has changed, with police brutality concerns persisting and no accountability for the lives lost during the demonstrations, while calling on Nigerians to remain engaged in the fight for good governance, justice and respect for citizens’ rights.
Speaking in an interview on ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Adeyinka said the memories of the protests remained fresh, adding that Nigerians were still awaiting accountability for the lives lost, six years after the demonstrations.
“Six years later, it still feels fresh, like today. It feels very fresh in my memory every time of the year we get to this point. We were mentally tortured and psychologically exposed to the height of dehumanization by the people we were supposed to look up to as our leaders.
“This is the country we find ourselves in, and to date, no one is answering for the dozens of lives lost across Nigeria. It is a painful thing to think that a president placed the relevance of human lives below damaged or vandalized property, especially when people were simply asking for fairness, equity, and good governance policies that protect citizens. Police brutality should stop—that is all.
“In the documentary, nobody was holding stones or any weapons; it was just our flag. We believed our nation respected the rule of law and the conduct that pulls us together as a nation. That is where we find ourselves today.
“Not entirely in vain, but as to whether the movement has achieved its objectives, we are not there yet. I believe it serves as a wake-up call for us, and the timing is strategic looking at the coming election. A lot of people lost their direction, but it is still fresh in our memory and nothing has changed.
“The status quo of a badly imposed government on its own people remains. Their pattern of rulership, dictatorship, and imposition continues to the point where we are not free to express ourselves without being picked up, silenced, or bullied.
“For our generation and the generations coming, we will not be silenced. It is high time Nigerians get involved. If we keep saying our votes and voices do not count, we leave our destinies in the hands of people who lack empathy and sympathy for humanity.”
Speaking on whether justice had been served to victims of the #EndSARS protests, Adeyinka said the 2021 White Paper report had been ignored, with no proper investigation or compensation provided to survivors and families of those killed.
“Justice was never served. The White Paper report was completely ignored. Beyond that, a UK parliamentary panel was set up for investigation. Three of us represented the victims, and we won that case against the Nigerian government. There was supposed to be compensation for the survivors and the families of those who lost their lives, but to date, nothing has been done—not even an investigation.”
On the continued relevance of the #EndSARS movement and the impact of police reforms, Adeyinka said police brutality and harassment remained widespread, with citizens still intimidated for recording police interactions. She maintained that despite some individuals abandoning the cause, genuine voices continued to demand good governance and justice for Nigerians who lost their lives during the protests.
“Regarding remnants, many people are still using their voices and platforms to call for memorials and to agitate for good governance. Regarding police reform, I have not seen any significant impact in the police or security sector. Brutality is still ongoing, people are still being harassed, and citizens are even harassed for filming police interactions. You do not feel safe standing near a police officer, which should not be the case. If the police were properly cared for, they would do right by the citizens they are supposed to protect.
“While some individuals eventually compromised, that does not undermine the cause. There are still genuine voices true to the cause of the dozens of Nigerians across the country who lost their lives simply for demanding a government that cares for its citizens.”
Ahead of the general elections in 2027, Adeyinka urged young Nigerians to take an active role in the 2027 elections by collecting their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participating in the electoral process, describing the belief that votes do not count as a psychological tactic to discourage voter participation.
“Going into 2027, we must stop ignoring the fact that nobody will fix Nigeria for us—we have to fix it ourselves. We are told we are the leaders of tomorrow, yet in my fourth decade, after entering politics, I saw how shallow and shabby the system was and had to resign to avoid compromising my values.
“My advice to Nigerians is to recognize that the idea that our votes do not count is an intentional psychological tactic. If you have registered, collect your PVC and get involved.”
She also called on opposition parties to unite behind a candidate with proven integrity, warning that internal divisions and personal ambitions could undermine efforts to challenge the current political system.
“More importantly, if the opposition candidates genuinely mean well for Nigerians, there must be a coalition to defeat the current system. Rather than remaining fractured by power ambitions, candidates should align behind a single, tested, and trusted individual—not based on campaign promises or acting, but on proven integrity—so we can unite the numbers needed for real change.”
Favour Odima
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