CLEVELAND — Nigeria’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a notoriously corrupt police agency, was formed in the 1980s to curb a rise in robberies in the country. But instead, Nigerians say it has led to increased profiling among the young residents along with a rise in violence.

What You Need To Know

  • Nigerian Americans in Northeast Ohio aren’t letting distance discourage them from supporting a movement underway in Africa

  • Young people are using social media to make sure Nigerian Americans and Black-Americans stay informed about police violence

  • The movement hits close to home for some Cleveland Browns players

A month ago, young Nigerians launched #EndSARS, a movement against police brutality that caught the world's attention. 

“A young man was killed by SARS and thrown off a truck, and it was found on video. And when that video went viral, a lot of the Nigerian youth became very angered and said it’s time to finally speak out," said Michael Sonariwo of Lagos, Nigeria says.

Michael Sonariwo grew up in America and now lives in Nigeria. He's speaking out about his experiences with SARS.

“I got stopped by the police they dragged me out my car, and these guys are all holding machine guns. So, you can imagine: You have AK-47 right in your face every single time. You get hit. You get punched," Sonariwo says.

In October, days of peaceful protest against SARS turned violent, and the call for reform is still being heard across the globe. To make sure Nigerian Americans and Black Americans stay informed, young people like Sonariwo are using the platforms they know best: Social media. 

“Maybe it will motivate them to do more, to you know, speak out, to just see that this problem is a worldwide problem,” he says.

First-generation Nigerian-American David Njoku of the Cleveland Browns is using his social media platforms not only to stay informed, but to spread the word about what's going on in Nigeri — a country where most of his immediate family lives. 

 


“It hurt my heart personally because I’ve seen videos, videos of my people being tormented and killed," Njoku says.

He and his Cleveland Browns teammate Olumide Larry Ogunjobi are using their platform to support organizations such as the United Way of Greater Nigeria.  

“Now we're trying to figure out ways to take a more aggressive approach to actually help, and do things that will benefit the people over there in Nigeria,” Njoku says.

Bu they also want to shed light on police violence happening abroad and in America. 

“Now, people are having the courage and the foresight to know that we got to stand up for what's right. Enough is enough. We're not gonna be quiet. We're not gonna tolerate this anymore. If you're here to protect and serve, then protect and serve. You can't be out here killing us. You can't be out here abusing us. You can't be out here taking advantage of us when you're literally here to make sure that we're OK,” Ogunjobi says.

Sonariwo says Nigerians stood in solidarity with Americans who protested throughout the summer following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. And he’s glad to see Black and Nigerian Americans realize that their experiences and their fight is unfortunately the same, Sonariwo says.

"Whether young. Whether old. Whether lower class, middle class, high class, everybody came together for one common goal for the first time ever,” Sonariwo says.