On October 8, 2020, the #EndSARS protests spread nationwide, with prominent Nigerian celebrities like Tiwa Savage, Runtown, Falz, Wurld, and DJ Spinall joining the movement.
These artists took to the streets carrying placards that read, "No to SARS," ''Say No to police brutality'', and other inscriptions, joining their voices to call for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). SARS operatives were notorious for human rights abuses, extortion, torture and extrajudicial killings of Nigerian youths.
Many Nigerians youths in various states also took to the streets to participate in the demonstration making the movement gain greater momentum. The #EndSARS protest was also taken online, making it a major trend on various social media platforms to the extent that it gained international attention.
In Lagos State, protesters slept overnight at the entrance of the Lagos State Government House in Alausa, Ikeja, demanding immediate action. With its rapid momentum, what began as a movement against police brutality evolved into a larger demand for accountability and reforms, and eventually became one of the largest youth-led protests in Nigerian history.
Other key events on this day
1. House of Representatives approved impeachment inquiry of President Clinton - 1998
2. Otto von Bismarck became German Republic Chancellor - 1862
3. Great Chicago Fire began, and killed about 300 people - 1871
4. The first person in U.S. diagnosed with Ebola died - 2014
5. Communists rejected US President, Richard Nixon's peace proposal - 1970
6. The world's first transcontinental air race took place - 1919
7. American singer-songwriter, Bruno Mars was born - 1985
8. Kenyan Wangari Maathai became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize - 2004.
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