4 Safety Tips For The #EndSARS Protest - Written By Amechi Okoli

Police brutality is not new to this part of the world, but occurrences have spiked in recent years, and it seems there is no end to the madness.

With the wave of killings comes the protests. The #endsars hashtag has been trending for weeks, and it seems the Nigerian youth and other well-meaning individuals and groups from all over the world have had enough!

How best can aggrieved citizens express their displeasure? By protesting peacefully of course.

As you exercise your right to protest, you need to keep in mind that all may not go as you planned, and things could flip sideways in the blink of an eye. For this reason, you need to ensure that you behave in the most responsible manner while you’re out there.

Below, I will list out 4 safety tips you should employ as you go out to protest.

1. Be Informed

Knowledge as they say, is power. And adequate knowledge of the rules could be the difference between peace and chaos during a protest.

The first thing you need to know is that YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROTEST, so don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. However, you also need to know where you are allowed to protest.

Private property is totally out of the question. You can protest in front of Government buildings and roads, but must not disrupt the peace.

You can chant as loud as you want, but vandalization is not allowed. If you or other protesters begin throwing objects at government buildings or start destroying property, then you’re slowly cooking up a riot.

An armed man only knows one way to respond to violence, and that is with violence. If the situation starts becoming chaotic as a result of misconduct from the protesters, then the armed operatives that have been watching quietly will be given a reason to cock back their weapons.

Remember, they already detest the fact that you are protesting against them, do not give them further reasons to pull their triggers. Energy is contagious, peace can attract peace, and violence can attract violence.

The more peaceful the protest is, the higher the chances of it ending well. Hopefully, the security operatives will respect the law too.

Did I just say that? I am hoping that an officer of the law should respect the law Yeah, that’s how bad it is in Nigeria!

2. Come With Supplies

Protests could last the whole day, and this could weaken you worse than you ever imagined. This is why you need to go along with relevant supplies.

You will need to eat, so make provisions for that. Prepare some food and store in a flask, and make sure you eat some of it after a few hours of standing and chanting, even if you’re not feeling hungry.

During a protest, your adrenaline levels could rise and you’ll be all hyper, and maybe that’s why you won’t feel the hunger at first. But trust me, all that shouting and forward marching is zapping energy from your body. Why do you think people just slump?

You will need to have enough water too, and you should take sips at short intervals to keep your body hydrated.

If you are on a special kind of medication, then be sure to bring them along. If you have one, then come with a small first aid kit too. You can never know what will happen in a protest!

Also ensure that your phone is fully charged, as an emergency call may save someone’s life.

This has been the year of the flu (Covid 19), so I don’t think I need to remind you to come with your nose mask and hand sanitizers. Some cash will be needed too.

3. Do Not Go Astray

Yes we know you’re an adult and you are free to go anywhere you wish. But don’t you think you’ll be safer when you’re with the group?

As the old saying goes – “There is power in numbers”, so always use that to your advantage during the protest.

Do not stray too far away from the others. Remember, there are those who do not agree with your protest, and would be tempted to harm you if they notice you have moved far away from the rest.

Who will stop them?

If you’re wearing a protest t-shirt branded with the hashtag, then you would be an obvious target and may get pounced on when you’re on your own.

4. Leave When The Protest Is Over

When the day’s protest comes to an end, it would be in your best interest to leave the grounds immediately.

You have to understand that not everyone there is a protester, some of them are miscreants looking for something to steal, or someone to rape. You wouldn’t want to be a victim.

If it starts getting dark, then find others in the group that live in the same area as you, so you all can leave together. Once again, power in numbers!

If you decide to stay back after the protest (when it’s dark at night), and choose to post selfies from your protest or go on IG live, you might just get smacked at the back of your head and have your phone snatched from you faster than you can post!

Go home!

Conclusion

These are exciting times for Nigerians and everyone is at the edge of their seats, hoping the right decisions will be made.

If you must take to the streets to protest, then do so responsibly and safely.

Take care!

This article was written by Amechi Okoli (@amechi_okoli) WhatsApp 08033422206

Holumhidey:
in conclusion; use your head

Exactly!