Nigeria Should #EndSARS For EVERYONE

It is important to remember that the possession of laptops, dreadlocks and iPhones are not the only reasons SARS harasses Nigerians.

That the same lens they use to brutalize Nigerians on the perception of them being “Yahoo boys” or “prostitutes” is the same which they apply in harassing Nigerians who are queer or perceived to be so, especially effeminates and metrosexuals.

That every time the police demand to go through our phones, they are not just looking for “evidence” of fraudulent activities, but of what they can use to persecute people for being homosexual.

That when we say no to police brutality, we say no for the sake of ALL human rights, recognizing that those we so often other also experience brutality and need the same justices.

People like those who are stopped and searched, and then harassed when LGBT content is discovered on their devices.

People like those who are simply going about their hustle only to have their human rights abused simply because they said no to an illegal search of their phones.

People like those who are brutalized for being “too slim” and “looking gay”.

People like those who can’t even go to church looking their best, because of the terror of being misrepresented by a violent SARS.

People like those who are simply minding their business on social media, but the police are actively seeking them out via inbox messages to entrap.

People like those who Police PRO, Dolapo Badmus, was talking to when she threatened that “if you are homosexually inclined, Nigeria is not a place for you”.

People like those who are simply returning from a routine checkup at the hospital, but are stopped and victimized simply because condoms and lubes were found on them.

People like those who are harassed simply because, by saying they’re male models, then they must be gay.

People like those who went to a party that was raided by the police who arrested them, claiming they were in a homosexual cult, a case they’re still having a hard time proving in court.

People like the community in Benin who have been hounded and extorted for no crime other than that someone said they’re gay.

People like those whose only crime is to be a pedestrian going about their business, but then end up getting robbed of all their savings by the police who should protect them.

The rights of these people must be recognized as we march and protest police brutality, as we cry for the government to End. SARS. Now!