Nigeria: solidarity is organized online to support protests
Demonstration against police violence in Lagos, October 12, 2020. REUTERS / Temilade Adelaja
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
In Nigeria, the #EndSARS movement continues.
In Lagos, young protesters have been blocking the main toll booth in the city for nearly a week, where they held a vigil in memory of the victims of the police on Friday evening, October 16.
In Abuja, the demonstrators blocked the road to the airport that same Friday, despite the ban on demonstrations, enacted in the federal capital.
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With our correspondent in Lagos,
Liza Fabbian
Even though the movement still seems to be seeking its direction, young Nigerians now know they have the means to make their voices heard.
The social networks that have carried their voice also allow them to coordinate support actions and collect donations.
And it is women who are at the forefront of this solidarity movement.
When rainstorms hit Lagos last Thursday, umbrellas and coats were quickly provided to protesters.
Every day, water and food distributions are organized at the mobilization sites.
Binwe brought food to the crowd gathered in front of the assembly gates in Lagos, north of the city.
“
I work in the food industry.
There, we sought funds and received support from people who live inside or outside Nigeria.
From Texas, Canada or other states… and from here too.
We want to help the demonstrators, to be sure that they have food and that they are in good shape to continue the movement
, ”Binwe explains.
On the networks, "
the feminist coalition
", a platform created by a dozen Nigerian women, centralizes and redistributes a large part of the donations.
Nearly $ 200,000 have been raised so far to support 154 demonstrations across Nigeria.
Dr Deleke, a 28-year-old young woman, sits in an ambulance, parked among the crowds.
“
We say on Twitter where we need help, and one of the platforms that collects the donations hires one and sends it to us.
There is a lot of solidarity and there is always someone ready to help.
It's beautiful,
”she rejoices.
Evidence of the echo of this movement on the web, the CEO of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, has repeatedly given his public support to Nigerian youth.
He even unveiled a special emoji to accompany his claims: a raised fist in the colors of the Nigerian flag.
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