Nigeria – EndSars Protest: DJ Switch Reacts To ECOWAS Court Judgement

By Utebor Paul, Nigeria.

Obianuju Catherine Udeh (DJ Switch), popularly known as EndSars activist, has reacted to the judgement of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) community court of justice, which found the Federal Government of Nigeria liable for human rights abuses during the EndSars protest.

The EndSARS movement took place in Nigeria around October 2020, over police brutality by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on the masses.

It began with a 2017 X (Twitter) campaign, demanding SARS disbandment due to widespread abuses. The movement resurged in October 2020 after further abuses came to light, leading to nationwide protests and global solidarity actions.

The protest was led by young Nigerians, which eventually escalated for a demand for better governance and accountability amid national challenges.

Recall that the ECOWAS court on Wednesday instructed the Federal Government of Nigeria to pay N2 million in compensation to each victim named in the suit (DJ Switch alongside Perpetual Kamsi and Dabiraoluwa Adeyinka).

The court said the government’s actions at the Lekki tollgate violated several international human rights standards, including articles 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, and 11 of the African charter on human and peoples’ rights.

However, reacting to the judgement delivered, Switch noted that the court not only reaffirmed what she knew and experienced, but also made it one of the best days of her life since the horrific event.

Switch said: “Not once did I waver in my shared experience of the traumatic events of the 20th of October, 2020 but to sit in court and listen to the esteemed judges, based on the facts, give a ruling in our favor not only reaffirms what I know and experienced but makes this one of the best days of my life since the horrific event…”

“This judgement becomes a glimmer of hope that we can indeed head in the right direction in service of the truth and justice.”

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