Segun Awosanya aka ‘Sega’ is a realtor, strategist, brand consultant and life coach living in Lagos, Nigeria. With recent developments in the country that has led to the restructuring of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigeria Police Force, Segun can rightfully add ‘accomplished human rights activist’ to his bio.
The People’s Hero
About a year ago, Segun put himself in the fore of a battle that threatened his life and family when he created a petition on CitizenGo to the House of Representatives and the National Assembly to review and ultimately end the oppression of young Nigerians by SARS operatives.
The University of Lagos graduate, however, did not just stop there. Knowing that he would have to pull a great crowd if his voice is to be heard by the Nigerian government, he took the campaign to the social media where many well-meaning Nigerians, both young and old bought into the plan and joined the #EndSARS movement.
For several months, as the number of Nigerians that joined the campaign increased, so did the reports with credible evidence of brutality, cruelty and wanton arrests by SARS operatives. Yet there were no indications of any sort that President Muhammadu Buhari could hear his people crying out loudly for a change.
Words were exchanged between senior members of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and citizens. However, it all hit the wall when the NPF gave a thousand and one reasons why they will not do as much as review SARS activities, talk less of putting an end to the unit.
Yet Segun and his team remained resolute, unmoved by the defenses the NPF put up on so many occasions.
The Victory!
It took a while, but it finally happened. Months of unwavering protests had finally paid off as the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo on Tuesday directed the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to completely overhaul the SARS unit, restricting their activities to the prevention and detection of armed robbery and kidnapping cases.
Artistes, lawyers, human rights activist, social media influencers and many other Nigerians are full of praise towards the man who laid it all down to make sure that Nigerian youths can once again walk the streets without fear of SARS brutality.
Thank you, Segun ‘Sega’ Awosanya.
Feature image: guardian.ng