Why I was advised to leave Nigeria after the EndSARS protest — Artist and graphic designer, Oshinloye

A young Nigerian artist and graphic designer, Oshinloye Oluwayomi Babafemi, has explained his reasons for wanting to leave the country following the threat after the nationwide protest tagged EndSARS in 2020.

Recall that young Nigerians took to the streets in October 2020  to protest against incessant Police brutality and extra-judicial killings by a special anti-robbery unit of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The ENDSARS protest which leveraged social media platforms and started in major cities like Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja, spread to places like Ibadan, Osogbo, Makurdi, among others; had young Nigerians in their large turnouts calling for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), among other requests from the Nigerian authorities.

Oshinloye, who actively participated in the various  protests across Lagos State – Government House, Alausa, Ikeja and the now memorial ground, Lekki Toll Gate, Lekki-Epe Expressway – said he joined the protest in solidarity with fellow young Nigerians over power abuse by the unit, which “constantly exhibits amongst the youths; including profiling, extortion, torture and a lot cases have been reported of the said unit committing extra-judicial killing amongst many other despicable things this very unit have done to Nigeria Youths.”

As a result of his participation in the protest which resulted in the controversial killing of protesters by men of the Nigerian Army at Lekki Toll gate on 20th October, 2020, Oshinloye said he received threats following the incident and was later attacked because of some pictures he took at the scene. 

“After the Massacre the same disbanded unit, SARS took to the street to raid and brutalised young Nigerians who demanded to ‘live and not leave’.I was informed that the said unit had information of me having images of the protest and the mayhem this very unit had caused,” he disclosed.

Continuing, the young graphic designer explained he received a call from Darlington Orji, a neighbour, on the 24th October, 2020, “who informed me of my possible arrest as he overheard from the community leader that police would be raiding those who participated in the protest. Since I got hold of the information, I decided to move out of my apartment to my friend’s place – Emmanuel Olatosi. Who accommodated me in his apartment for weeks.

My neighbour, Darlington Orji called again to inform me of unknown gunmen who paraded themselves to be police, but not in uniform, came to my apartment at intervals, broke through the house and left the whole place damaged and a lot of my belongings were carted away. I asked him to take pictures which he did and sent to me.

“Some scared youths found out of my hiding location, came in numbers and attacked me, but my friend and a few people in his community helped me get away from the angry mob. I was on the run, hiding randomly at a friend’s place. 

At this point, I knew nowhere in Nigeria was safe for me to stay, because I got depressed, emotionally drained and mentally exhausted. I decided to check myself into a safe medical facility, and I was placed on depressant medications.”

The young graphic designer further explained how he planned to leave the country, following advice he received to seek protection away from the country.