Oppression is no longer the Norm.
In these modern times, it ought to be unusual for persons to walk around without modern gadgets because they are a lot more efficient, time-saving and of course, they look and feel good. Nigeria as we know it is a home for the importation of a myriad of smart gadgets ranging from smartphones, smartwatches amongst others. The sad reality now is that, in a country where owning of smart items ought to be a norm, the authorities and security agents see it as an avenue to apprehend well-meaning citizens of the nation, those who just happen to want to live comfortable lives despite the overarching hardship that the country is faced with.
Millennials and generation z citizens feel the brunt of this more, and it is evident in the fact that the operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad division of the Nigerian police now indiscriminately harass whoever they find leading this lifestyle and being fresh.
Over the course of many years, reports have been trickling into those who care enough to listen to the cries of those who have parted with either loved ones, money or sustained severe injuries. Also, statistics have shown how the violent atrocities of this police division have been on a steady rise and the government, elder statesmen and other important stakeholders in the welfare of its citizens have turned a blind eye and have given a deaf ear.
There have been cases of young Nigerians who were simply going to work are stopped, molested and extorted continuously, there have been cases where the girls and vulnerable lot are harassed and sometimes rapped by the same men who are supposed to come to their aid whenever things of this nature are about to happen.
I will not fail to mention the harassment suffered by the rising creatives on the streets of cities they grew up in simply because they wore controversial looks or the form of expression of their art do not appeal to the conscience of the SARS agents.
The list is endless, it goes on and on, the tech community is not exempted, there have even been cases of persons who since they work remotely need to have constant power supply are harassed in their own houses because their generators were turned on by 7 am and then they were accused of being yahoo boys because they had a computer turned on then. All attempts to try to convince them that you are not a fraud comes to nothing unless of course, you part with some cash.
SARS operate without any sense of care for the consequences of their actions because they seem to believe that they are above the law, many Nigeria youths have in one time of their lives or another heard the statements coming from their mouths which includes the most frequently uttered; ‘I go shoot you here now, nothing go happen.’ And truly, up until now, many have lost their lives and the lives of their loved ones and nothing has actually happened. Nothing has been said and nothing has been done.
But all that is changing now because we are tired of living in oppression like it is a norm, we want to be able to walk on the streets of where we grew up without having to feel fear or worry over being harassed, killed or arrested by SARS agents. We want to be able to make money legitimately and enjoy the fruits of our labour by owing luxury items without fear.
We want to live.