The #Endsars protest that lasted for 12 days in Nigeria before the curfew in some parts of the country has become the topic of discussion worldwide. World leaders, celebrities, and other high profile personalities across the world are in support of #Endsars protests in Nigeria. The use of social media like Facebook, Instagram, and most importantly Twitter, have helped in sending out a strong message to international communities.
Let’s tell you what we have found out during the protests. When the protests started a few weeks back, popular celebrities, Runtown, Falz were some of the vocal voices. They ensured their demands were well articulated.
The Lekki toll gate, Lagos is the centre of the campaign and by 9am protesters from every part of the state would troop out to the place. It was highly coordinated and organised. Before the take-off of activities, the protesters are told to recite the national anthem before the Disc Jockey would dish out songs to spice the morning.
We also need to tell you that, every location where protesters converged are always kept clean. There were people who volunteered for that assignment.
One of the things that have sustained the #EndSARS movement is free food for all protesters. Food was brought in batches and this has enabled the protesters to stay longer at the protest ground. The protest ground in Lekki toll gate witnessed close to 1 million protesters who were unanimously asking the government for their legitimate rights.
As this was going on, protesters were asked to constantly go to their Twitter handle and Tweet #Endsars and for more than one week, the #endsars trended as no 1 on the Twitter and that attracted the world leaders, Like Hilary Clinton, and other world leaders. The world celebrities and superstar players aren’t left behind as they all showed solidarity support for Nigerian youths. It’s the first time in the history of the black nation to expose the rotten structure to the international communities with the use of social media.
There were two types of protesters: there were people on the ground and there were people who couldn’t go out but they were making use of social media.
What we also found out is how they were able to raise money from every part of the world to fund their struggles. People who saw the genuiness of the protests voluntarily donated to the cause. A lot of money were raised. More than 80 million naira was raised. And this was used for food, legal action, treatment of protesters, accommodation of people and other logistics.
According to an anonymous Nigerian online, he spoke about the shocking things he has found out about the protests and why the government needs to be on alert. ”Nigerian Govt had ex better giddy up… It would appear the endSARS protest is being run and directed Digitally by the youths and it will be hard to stop and may become a protest like nothing we have ever seen on Earth.
They have indeed weaponized social media and dark web internet in ways I didn’t even think of. As of yesterday, I thought they didn’t have any leadership but I was so wrong. They do have leaders but they have deliberately chosen to be anonymous so they can operate at will. You can only arrest people you know and our govt is so clueless they really can’t track people much online
I just did some digging and found out these youths are way ahead of the govt. They seemed to have a steady stream of funding through bitcoins and an impenetrable chain of command that only few are even aware of
The leaders also seemed to have deep web places they meet and strategise… a true digital resistance like none the world has ever seen . Seriously.
Some key peopel on the streets are in direct communication with the faceless youth leaders and things are being coordinated in ways that are inexplicable to the uninitiated
I was wondering how it spread organically so fast into practically all states in Nigeria and already springing up in many cities abroad … all in under 10 days ! Now I know better. These youths are ready and cooperating and supporting each other at a level unprecedented in street protests.
The govt is thinking it’s the opposition sponsoring them but the opposition is equally clueless as to what’s happening.
This will be a LONG FIGHT with faceless leaders: The nightmare of every Govt. It’s like fighting a digital Boko Haram. They are just not motivated by religion or violence but they are determined to bring this Govt down to its knees if it won’t do the right things
I am not sure right now whether to be elated since I am one of the big advocates of digitalization of everything or maybe I should be scared of what may happen as this drags on
Just some days ago they took down some major Govt websites in what I just gathered were test runs. They seemed to have bad boy hackers that if this thing gets out of hand they can shut down portals of Govt at will and disrupt operations of key parastatals.
Also the mass of the youths have no jobs, so the protest is their job now. Their houses have no light so it’s more fun being on the streets with their friends dancing and singing.
They have nothing to lose but will cost the economy billions of Naira as they disrupt movements
The Govt needs to thread very carefully and do the right things early.
These youths WILL WIN.
From what I have seen anyone thinking they will all go home soon may be mistaken o. They are WELL FUNDED from abroad by youths like them .. not sponsored by old school politicians as some are thinking.
I have seen go-fund-me accounts that were shut down and now they have switched to untraceable bitcoins and money is flowing in little foreign currencies at a time.
I don’t know whether to clap for the youths who are masterminds of this movement or to be scared of them
Like everything, Nigeria takes everything, to a whole new level. The Nigerian youths may have been inspired by Black Lives Matter but the world is about to see a whole new level of invisible digital protest warfare masterminded by people in cyberspace
The internet age is about to collide with physical Govt structures and everyone needs to buckle up.
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