Police Brutality, Youth Bulge and The #Endsars Protest in Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the human rights abuses during the #EndSARS protest in Nigeria. Originating as a youth-led movement against police brutality, it evolved into a demand for broader institutional reforms. The objectives of the study are to analyze the political dimensions of the protest and its wider impacts on youth consciousness to right abuses in Nigeria. The article explores how social media fuelled nationwide resistance against the Nigerian political system. Using content and discourse analysis of secondary data, the study draws from media reports. Findings reveal extensive human rights violations by the police's SARS Unit, prompting protests
organized via Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The protest led to the dissolution of SARS, establishment of a judicial commission, significant economic losses, and social media regulation. Recommendations include police and security system reforms, youth political engagement, and compensation for victims of police abuse.