The Hoodlums

By Temitayo Oyekunle

No doubt, the author has done justice to history by writing on the #endsars protests of October 2020, which rocked major cities in Nigeria for ten days and shook the government to its foundation.

In view of the vital information contained in this book and the relevance of the message of the author, I am compelled to recommend the book to all Nigerians who are desirous of ending police brutality, impunity, corruption and abuse of office in the country.

Femi Falana (SAN)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Commune Writers Int'l
• Release date: Sep 29, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005758295

Temitayo Oyekunle

Oyekunle Temitayo is a trained teacher, civic awareness ambassador, and a passionate Nigerian who is driven by the philosophy “Leave things better than the way you met them”. Since 2006, Temitayo has been contributing to the Nigerian project through leadership, capacity building, and innovative workshops for students, organization of Independence symposia and march pasts, and hoisting the Nigerian National flag in different schools and organizations throughout the country.His love for children has delivered to him a large circle of students who he coaches and mentors.

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DEDICATION

To

All families and victims of Police brutality, especially the injured and dead during the #Endsars Protest.

To

Nigerians who toil so hard daily to provide for themselves basic amenities which the system failed to provide and are still subjected to pains by the same system.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Many thanks to those whose works, research and support helped me to write this book. Of notes are Foundation for Investigative Journalism, Human Rights Watch International, and Amnesty International.

I doff my cap for those celebrities who didn’t see entertainment as their only calling but consistently stood on the side of the masses to demand good governance, justice and equity. Falz, Burna Boy, Mr Maccaroni, Idris AbdulKareem and all those that fall into this category, thank you for not giving up on the fight to ensure we have a sane society. We appreciate what you do.

To late Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Baba 70, your struggle in calling for accountability among the political gladiators that made you suffer too many losses, including your mother's death, the fearless Madam Funmilayo Ransomkuti, has been the inspiration propelling us to continue demanding justice, equity and good governance. You have transcended to the world beyond but we still relish your musical works, which are apt for our present predicaments.

Special thanks to my partners in Sepheth Youth Foundation, Mr Niyi Akinyemi and Mrs Chinyere Chibudum. Your supports have been massively helpful. Your passion for the youths and a better society deserves National Award.

I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Mr Femi Falana (SAN). He gave freely his time to discuss the nuances of this book. What an indescribable pleasure was it to have you engage me in discussion even at different odd hours as regards the credibility and objectivity of the book. I immensely thank you for the inspiring role you played while completing this book. Your busy schedule didn’t deter you from contributing to this work. I must confess your down-to-heart nature coupled with fine intellectualism is mind-blowing. Sir, your support has waxed up my strength to continue doing all I can to build a better Nigeria.

I want to acknowledge the wonderful contribution of the Chief Executive Officer of Eagles Foundation for Humanity, Titilope Anifowoshe, a passionate youth advocate and a legal practitioner. I greatly appreciate your counsel and constructive critique. Your contribution made this book beautiful.

I am also immensely grateful to the man who cared less about self but laboured in freeing those incarcerated unjustly, Ridwan Oke, Lawyer awon ‘Hoodlums’. This book wouldn’t have been complete without your great contribution.

It’s worthy to note the constructive comments of Temitope Majekodunmi, the youth representative on the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on EndSars. Though we couldn’t have a comprehensive discussion due to many factors, your comments encouraged me to ensure no stone was left unturned.

My wife and children are appreciated for tolerating my disappearances and their understanding during the times I had to suspend or at most times abandon joint family activities to ensure the book is completed. Thank you so much.

FOREWORD

Following the zealous implementation of the imperialist inspired Structural Adjustment Programme by General Ibrahim Babangida military junta in the late 1980s, the country witnessed a phenomenal increase in poverty rate. As a result of mass unemployment, many young people were driven to violent crimes, including armed robbery. In a knee jerk reaction to the security challenge, the federal government established the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in each state of the federation. Peopled by police and military personnel, the security body is empowered to arrest and investigate armed robbery suspects. Upon the conclusion of an investigation, files of cases are forwarded to the office of the State Attorney-General for prosecution. The suspects who are tried and convicted are sentenced to death by the armed robbery tribunals headed by high court judges. Despite the death penalty prescribed for the offence of armed robbery, it has been on the increase in the country.

However, apart from the payment of the salaries of the security personnel by the federal government, the SARS in each State is fully funded by the state government. But due to lack of supervision and control of the SARS by state governments, the operatives became a law unto themselves and engaged in the unprecedented abuse of the fundamental rights of the Nigerian people. In particular, SARS operatives subjected criminal suspects to torture and extrajudicial execution. The stop and search on the highways by SARS operatives led to the extortion of money from young people who were alleged to be living above their income. Young ladies were arrested and detained for wearing trousers. Some of the suspects were raped and subjected to other sexual abuse. Students who embarked on peaceful rallies and workers who took part in industrial action were arrested and brutalized. As all complaints against the excessive abuse of power by the SARS operatives fell on deaf ears of the authorities, the victims decided to launch a campaign to end police brutality of the Nigerian people. The #endsars campaign which began sometime in 2017 was ignored by the government. In fact, the police authorities arrogantly insisted that SARS was indispensable in the maintenance of law and order in the country.

In his book entitled ‘THE HOODLUMS’, the author, Temitayo Oyekunle, traced the genesis of the SARS, analysed its modus operandi and gave a detailed report of the violent attacks unleashed on hapless citizens by the operatives of the security agency. In writing the book, the author decided to join issues with the government for blaming hoodlums for the revolt of the youths against police brutality in the country. Even though Tayo does not hide his support for the #endsars movement, his account is devoid of sentiments. The situation reached a boiling point on October 4, 2020. On that day, a video has gone viral which should be the brutalization of two men who were dragged out of a hotel by SARS operatives. According to Tayo, the #endsars protests commenced in Lagos on October 8, 2020, when Falz, a musician who has this rare consciousness about his society and uses his music to do justice to that joined by Runtown, an artist and Nigeria's biggest female performer, Tiwa Savage took the front row. They were joined by other artists and concerned youths. The protests spread to other parts of the country, like a bush fire in the harmattan.

To society's dismay, the protests were not organized by workers or civil society activists but by the nouveau riche who live in the Lekki area of Lagos State. The protests were well-coordinated in and outside the country. The organizers levied themselves and raised funds for publicity, feeding, and legal aid for arrested protesters. In a knee jerk reaction to the protests, the police authorities announced the dissolution of SARS and its replacement with the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT). The Federal Government promised some reforms while State Governments announced the setting up of judicial commissions of inquiry to probe allegations of police brutality and make appropriate recommendations. On account of the demand of the #endsars movement, the police and other security agencies were directed by the federal government and state governments to release all detained protesters from custody and discontinue criminal charges filed against them in criminal courts.

In a very authoritative manner, the author has given a critical background to the revolt and its impact on the politics of the country. In defence of the protests, he blames the ruling class for the gross mismanagement of the economy and brazen corruption by leading politicians. He did not hesitate to mention the names of the few politically exposed persons that the anti-graft agencies have indicted. He compared the looting spree associated with the current set of state governors with their predecessors in the first republic. In condemning the grand corruption of the political class, he reproduced part of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti's record entitled Authority Stealing. On the criminal neglect of the children of the poor by our class society, he referred to the lines from Burnaboy's track Monsters you made us, released August 28, 2020. BurnaBoy is a Nigerian Musician with an international reputation and a 2021 Grammy Award Winner.

The government was caught unaware. Based on spurious security report that the revolt