PROTESTS AND CITIZENS GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT IN NIGERIA: A CASE STUDY OF THE 2020 ENDSARS PROTEST
Abstract
The 2020 #EndSARS protest in Nigeria marked a significant youth-led movement against pol
ice brutality and systemic governance failures, highlighting the dynamics of protest and citize
n-government engagement. This study examined the effectiveness of the #EndSARS protest i
n advancing government accountability and citizen participation, analyzed the repercussions
of the Nigerian government’s response, and identified nonviolent strategies for promoting soc
ial change. Employing a qualitative approach, the research utilized thematic and content anal
ysis of secondary data from academic journals, NGO reports, news articles, and social media
analytics (post-2015), grounded in Social Movement Theory. Findings revealed that the prote
st achieved moderate success in accountability, securing the disbandment of the Special Anti-
Robbery Squad and judicial panels processing 5,500 petitions, but was limited by superficial
reforms and state violence, notably the Lekki Toll Gate massacre. Citizen participation surge
d, with 28 million tweets amplifying youth engagement, though inclusivity gaps persisted due
to the digital divide. The government’s repressive response deepened public mistrust, with 8
2% of Nigerians distrusting police by 2022, yet spurred global advocacy. Nonviolent strategie
s, including digital advocacy, grassroots organizing, and institutional engagement, emerged a
s viable paths for reform. The study underscored the transformative potential of youth activis
m and the need for inclusive governance to sustain social change in Nigeria.
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