Mapping the EndSARS loot: 27 razed police stations, 10 AK-47 rifles

Following what we described as a ragtag game of it wasn’t me between state officials, the President’s stern icebreaker seems to have birthed another dimension to the EndSARS chants. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to call them that anymore.

Hoodlums and vandals have hijacked the organised peaceful EndSARS demonstrations, following the Lekki Massacre;

Exacerbating matters further was the discovery of COVID-19 palliatives in government owned warehouses;

So far, law enforcement is reportedly missing 10 AK-47 rifles;

Not to mention the 27 razed police stations, according to media reports and a COAS statement;

Dataphyte aggregates 59 incidents reports in 26 states.

For some, #BlackTuesday was the tragic end to the youthful, peaceful demonstrations that spanned a fortnight in Africa’s most populous country. But for others, the protests just began.

The new turn of events follows the discovery of COVID-19 palliatives meant for distribution in the heat of the pandemic. The outrage is palpable. And for a majority, the fact that many went on hungry during an economic downturn when a solution was available is just one of the many atrocities of their government.

For better understanding, the National Bureau of Statistics has it that over 40% of the nation’s populace live below the poverty line. Now juxtaposed that with the reality of a lockdown, economic downturn and police brutality, with Lekki Massacre as the icing on the cake. It’s a recipe for pandemonium.

#ENDSARS Hijacked?

By and large, the EndSARS movement shattered records for organic solidarity, the likes of which would make Macaulay smile. However, the unending list of Nigeria’s issues may have derailed the movement. Not to mention the loss of lives. More so, protest sensation, Feminist Coalition revealed they were shifting gears. So why are people still on the street? We can think of a few reasons, non exhaustive in the least. People are hurt. People are upset. But as with most noteworthy things, reality sometimes deviates from intention, as with the ongoing vandalism and looting.

Likewise, EndSARS OGs are still in shock. Speaking to Dataphyte, we observed the disbelief if not denial in current realities from respondents. Some of these people camped for days. But now, to see their efforts blow up in smoke from violence, murder and vandalism; quite disheartening.

This has provoked a vehement reaction from peaceful protesters.

Many influencers who championed the EndSARS protests, the real one, are equally in shock. And the term being thrown around is ‘disrespectful’. Disrespectful to the cause, the dead and the face of the movement.

Taking to his Twitter account, David Adedeji Adeleke said, “It is painful that what started as a peaceful protest has been hijacked and turned into complete anarchy, in total disrespect to those that lost their lives during the Peaceful protest.”

Au contraire to consensus for protests, the EndSARS movement illustrated civility and defiance did not have to be mutually exclusive. There were even reports of protesters, in the early stages, cleaning up after themselves. Some went as far as buying food for Road Safety officials.

“I never imagined it could turn out this way,” Jude Oke, a software engineer, said as he stared helplessly at his father’s looted shops in Surulere.

“I had been harassed several times by the police, when this whole protest started, it was like a personal agenda. Every day, I woke up and headed to Alausa, Ikeja, because for the first time I felt part of a purpose. But never would I have imagined a purpose for the common good for all, could lead to the death of our family business. My father’s shop where he sells clothes was completely cleaned up. As I speak, he is lying on his bed hopelessly.”

Jude’s father is one of the several cases of vandalized, looted property across the country which includes government and privately owned, that have been reported by the media since October 9th to 26th.

Further, Dataphyte’s aggregation of reports shows that in 18 days, about 61 incidents were reported, this include 27 burnt police stations, 10 stolen AK-47 rifles and coordinated attacks on four media houses.

More so, several multi-million naira worth of goods and properties belonging to government officials, senators, private individuals across 26 states were looted or vandalized.

“For one thing looters, and peaceful protesters aren’t typically the same people,” Emmanuel Morka, a lecturer with Delta State Polytechnic explained.

“No doubt, people flock to the sites of protests with different motivations, and those who want peace stay peaceful. I’ve never seen somebody come in who’s peaceful and then it’s like, hey, they just broke that window over there. I’m going to start looting.”

“But this is different. When you look at how the vandalism was carried out, you will no doubt see it is mostly a way from the meeting points for the #ENDSARS protest,” Morka added.

Prevalence of Pseudo EndSARS

Lagos state witnessed the highest number of incidence with 16 reported in the media. Seconded by Delta State with five. Also, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Ondo, all got mentioned three times in separate accounts.

The federal government has also promised to assist those who have been affected by the protest with Lagos state alone expected to spend over ₦1 trillion for repairs.

But perhaps what’s of moot is the compounded effect in an already sinking economy, serviced by debt. For now, we must wait and see…

Till then, here’s a rundown of vandalisation and lootings occurrences that ran alongside and ahead of the peaceful EndSARS demonstrations.

Incident Map of Occurences

UPDATE: The Editor changed the headline from “EndSARS: Separating the wheat from the weeds” to “Mapping the EndSARS loot: 27 razed police stations, 10 AK-47 rifles”.