Five years ago, young Nigerians rose in unity to demand an end to decades of state-sanctioned brutality. The EndSARS protests, which began as online outrage against the abuses of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), quickly evolved into a historic social movement in Nigeria’s modern history, and at the core were five clear demands from the protesters, each representing a pathway to justice and reform.
For two weeks in October 2020, Nigerian streets were filled with the energy of defiance and hope. Protesters occupied roads and public spaces, wielding placards and chants instead of weapons.
Tragically, on the night of October 20, 2020, that hope met gunfire. At the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, soldiers opened fire on peaceful protesters, an act that has since become a scar on Nigeria’s collective conscience. In the aftermath, as the protests were brutally suppressed, the government made a series of promises.
Half a decade later, the outcomes of those demands tell a painful story of neglect, denial, and delay. While the government made quick moves to pacify the outrage, the deeper reforms, those meant to ensure accountability, justice, and institutional change, remain either unfulfilled or forgotten.
Below is a detailed look at what became of the five demands and the state of implementation.
Immediate Release of Arrested Protesters – Achieved, but With Lasting Wounds
This was the most immediate and visible victory of the EndSARS movement. Following national and international outcry, many of the protesters arrested during the demonstrations were eventually released. Lawyers and civic groups worked tirelessly, visiting detention centres and courts to secure bail for hundreds of young Nigerians unjustly detained by the police, and by late October 2020, most states had complied with the directive to free protesters. However, for many, the experience of arrest came with physical and psychological scars. Reports emerged of protesters still in prison, being tortured, beaten, and denied access to legal representation.
Even after their release, the state continued to harass some activists through travel bans, surveillance, and asset freezes. The release of protesters was achieved, but the trauma and intimidation that followed showed that freedom came at a cost.
Justice for Deceased Victims – The Broken Promise of the Judicial Panels
In response to the second demand, justice for all deceased victims of police brutality, the National Economic Council (NEC) directed all state governments to establish Judicial Panels of Inquiry to investigate complaints against the police and recommend compensation.
Between November 2020 and mid-2021, 29 states and the FCT established these panels. Collectively, they received at least 2,791 petitions from victims of police brutality, extrajudicial killings, and unlawful detention. For a moment, it seemed Nigeria had embarked on an unprecedented effort to reckon with its past.
States like Lagos, Delta, and Oyo saw emotional testimonies from survivors and families of the dead. In Lagos, the panel chaired by retired Justice Doris Okuwobi became the most closely watched. It awarded ₦83 million to 13 petitioners and declared officers like Inspector Daniel Ojo wanted for murder. In Ekiti, Niger, and Kwara, panels submitted their final reports and made recommendations for compensation and prosecution.
Yet, five years later, only Ekiti State made its report public. The others remain buried in bureaucratic secrecy. Most of the 18 states that concluded their sittings have neither published their reports nor implemented recommendations.
Several panels simply stopped sitting. In Enugu and Nasarawa, proceedings halted over unpaid allowances. In Anambra, insecurity disrupted hearings entirely. The nationwide JUSUN strike in 2021 paralysed the panels for two months, and many never recovered.
Even more troubling, the Victims Support Fund, proposed by the NEC to ensure compensation for victims, was never established. Civil society groups like Yiaga Africa and EiE Nigeria have repeatedly reported that no state has set up such a fund.
The government promised justice, but for families of those killed, justice remains a distant dream.
Establishing an Independent Body to Investigate Police Misconduct – No Evidence of Progress
The third demand, the creation of an independent body to investigate police misconduct, was designed to ensure that the same abuses that fueled the EndSARS protests would not happen again.
But five years later, there is no evidence that such an independent institution has been established. The Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Force Headquarters still handle complaints internally, despite being part of the same structure accused of shielding abusive officers.
No external or civilian-led oversight mechanism exists to monitor investigations or disciplinary actions. This lack of independence undermines public trust and allows impunity to continue unchecked.
Even in cases where officers have been identified or indicted by panels, prosecutions remain rare. Many simply returned to service or were reassigned. In essence, the system still polices itself and protects itself.
Psychological Evaluation and Retraining of Disbanded SARS Operatives – Unverified and Unimplemented
When the Inspector-General of Police announced the disbandment of SARS on October 11, 2020, it was seen as a major victory for protesters, but the movement’s fourth demand went further: every disbanded SARS operative should undergo psychological evaluation and retraining, verified by an independent body, before redeployment.
This was meant to ensure that the same violent culture within SARS would not simply be transplanted into other police units.
However, five years later, there is no verifiable evidence that such evaluations ever took place. No public report, no independent oversight, and no transparency. The Nigerian Police claimed that former SARS officers were “retrained and redeployed,” but provided no details on who conducted the evaluations or how many officers were screened.
Worse still, many of the same officers now operate under different units such as SWAT, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), or Anti-Cultism Squad, with the same patterns of abuse and extortion that sparked EndSARS in the first place.
Without external verification, this demand remains one of the clearest symbols of the government’s failure to deliver on reform.
Improved Police Welfare – Still Waiting for Reform
The fifth demand acknowledged a truth often ignored: that poor police welfare contributes to corruption and abuse. Protesters called for better pay and working conditions for officers, believing that a well-treated police force would serve the people better.
In December 2021, the federal government approved a 20% salary increase for police officers. But the implementation has been inconsistent and minimal. For many rank-and-file officers, the increase barely offset inflation and rising living costs.
Barracks across the country remain in deplorable condition, with reports of leaking roofs, poor sanitation, and lack of medical care. Officers still buy their own uniforms and fuel patrol vehicles out of pocket.
The poor state of police welfare not only fuels frustration among officers but also perpetuates the cycle of extortion and abuse that EndSARS sought to end.
The Unfinished Work of Justice and Reform
Five years after EndSARS, the balance sheet of reform is damning: one demand achieved, one partially addressed, and three completely ignored. The Judicial Panels, once a symbol of hope, have faded into obscurity. Compensation has been paid to only a handful of victims, and panel reports remain locked away from public view.
The government’s failure to follow through on its promises has deepened mistrust between citizens and law enforcement. Instead of reform, repression has returned. Activists who once led the movement continue to face intimidation, and peaceful protests are met with heavy policing and arrests.
The memory of EndSARS has not died. It lives in the frustration of every young Nigerian still stopped, harassed, or profiled by the police. It lives in the voices of mothers who lost their children and are still waiting for justice that may never come.
As the nation marks five years since those fateful days, the question persists: when will justice reach the victims?
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