With hoodlums infiltrating a peaceful protest, soldiers and police leaving a trail of dead bodies in their wake, the government denying the events of October 20, 2020, and over 300 protesters languishing in detention, dubbing the #EndSARS protest a success or failure would be highly subjective. However, there were several individuals and entities that won and lost to varying degrees.

Still, there were people who emreged from the protest in glory, the winners, and those whose actions during the protest resulted in significant personal damage.

THE WINNERS

VICTIMS COMPENSATED BY VARIOUS PANELS

The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry awarded N148.2 million to 23 victims of police brutality, bringing its total compensation award to N410.2 million to 70 people, having previously awarded 47 the combined sum of N262 million.

None of them has been able to redeem the money so far, though, as Abubakar Malami, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, has not given the Police the go-ahead to make the payments. Whenever Malami finally gives the approval, no matter how long it takes, this would become such a hugely important victory.

DEBO ADEDAYO (MR MACARONI)

From sleeping at the gates of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Alausa, to falling from exhaustion during the protests, and then getting arrested and dehumanized by the police during the #OccupyLekkiTollgate protests, to say Debo Adedayo has become a Nigerian human rights icon will not be far from the truth.

However, asides his activism earning him Twitter verification, Adedayo became a rallying point for many Nigerians for not just the #EndSARS protests, but also the #OccupyLekkiTollgate and #June12Protest held on February 13 and June 12, 2021, respectively.

He has also become distinguished as not just a comedian, but a thespian intent on ridiculing society by mirroring some of its ills in his skits, while sending wake-up calls to the average Nigerian and the people in power. Although his activism began long before the events of last year, he has earned a bigger platform for his brand.

AISHA YESUFU

Prior to joining the #EndSARS protests, Aisha Yesufu was known as a co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls campaign, launched in response to the 2014 abduction of more than 200 girls from a secondary school in Chibok, Borno, by Boko Haram.

Yesufu’s name was already synonymous with activism before the October 2020 protests. Getting named as one of BBC’s 100 most influential women in the world, however, was a feat that came when the dusts of the #EndSARS protests had settled.

Her raised fist and stance in resistance to security operatives during the protests became a signature pose used by protesters, and circulates graphically till this day.

Like Macaroni, she also escaped the hassle of catfish accounts when she got verified by Twitter.

ARISE TV

When the government slams your media outfit a N3million fine and threatens to shut it down for “unprofessional conduct”, that’s a sign you are doing something right that stings their guts.

Arise TV’s coverage of the #EndSARS protests earned it the admiration of Nigerians and public praise, making it quickly become a household name.

It was commended for distinguishing peaceful protesters from hoodlums in its reports, objectively describing all sides of happenings and asking questions the average Nigerian was dying to ask.

BOVI UGBOMA

The moment Bovi Ugboma stepped on stage donning a white shirt that had a blood-stained Nigerian flag imprint at the 14th edition of the Headies awards, attendees at the event were taken down memory lane to the shooting of unarmed protesters by the Nigerian military.

His appearance at the February 21, 2021 event, four months after the protest, when efforts at discrediting the truth were peaking, repositioned the stand-up comedian as a daredevil who would not shy away from demanding justice.

Ugboma has since gone on to continue his comedy career, but his brand has taken a positive rise since that fateful evening in February.

THE LOSERS

SEGALINK

Segun Awosanya, popularly known as Segalink, used to be known as a human rights activist and rescuer of victims of police brutality. But by the time the dust settled on the #EndSARS demonstration, his public validation had gone off the rails. Not that he cares, though; if you frequent his Twitter handle, you must have run into his many tweets on how he doesn’t need validation.

Having protested against police brutality in 2017 and 2018, Segalink laid claims to the leadership of the protests, earning enemies and criticism from various quarters. By ridiculing the perceived leaders of the protest and labelling them ‘commercial‘ protesters at a time and “insurrectionists” at another, Segalink armed the government with the tool it needed to undermine the rally.

“They never fought for you. They waited for the advocacy to mature and seek to sow discord just to take over the narrative for their hidden agenda. You know them. They care less if you live or die. Keep your eyes peeled. Focus on the Goal,” Segalink tweeted.

“Hustlers being controlled by the lust after money are playing games and throwing narratives around. Your rights to protest must never be commercialised for any agenda. Check the patterns and note the players while keeping your focus.

“The attempt to hijack the #EndSARS #ReformPoliceNG movement by known elements who were against it from day one and had to be a part now for fame and earnings is not surprising. They felt they can demonise me and take ownership by force. But they’ll fail again as always.”

Referring to ‘leading’ as ‘ownership’ crashed the stock of the controversial social media commentator, and has seen him move from being the people’s voice to a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Segalink pulled out of the protests when Feminist Coalition gained recognition for its handling of finances. He described them as “insurrectionists” for requesting for the defence of the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.

“There is no place for insurrection in our country,” he said in one tweet, to the chagrin of users of the platform. “We see humanity and unite as a people regardless of our diversity, gender, and idiosyncrasies and the attempt to surreptitiously smuggle in an illegality into the struggle will fail.
@SIAF_NG.”

On February 7, 2021, Segalink, as a member of the Lagos Judicial Panel on Restitution for Victims of SARS-Related Abuses and Other Matters, voted in support of the reopening of Lekki Tollgate, the site of the October 20 massacre of peaceful protesters, saying it was for justice and equity.

His vote was in contrast to those of Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) and Patience Udoh, representatives of civil society, as well as the two youth representatives, Rinu Oduala and Temitope Majekodunmi. It didn’t go down well with many on Twitter.

OBA RIDWAN AKIOLU

It is unusual for Nigerian youths to disregard elders or defy traditional rulers, but thugs posing as protesters took advantage of the #EndSARS protest to desecrate the palace of the Oba of Lagos in Iga Idugaran, Lagos Island.

In a viral video, thugs were seen fleeing with the Oba’s staff, the symbol of his authority as a king. His cars were also vandalised, while valuables were carted away.

Oba Akiolu later announced that he lost huge stacks of money, a $2 million and another N17 million after the thugs stormed his palace on October 21, 2020, a day after the Lekki Massacre.

LILIAN AFEGBAI

With more than 55,000 tweets trending ‘Carol Afegbai’ on the morning of October 17, 2020, Lilian Afegbai, a Nollywood actress, knew she would be cancelled for the crimes of her mother, CSP Carol Onyekachi Afegbai, a former Divisional Police officer (DPO) of Ogida Police Station, Edo State.

On Friday, October 16, 2020, Lilian responded to Nigerians who branded her a “seductive actress” for her attire at the protest in Lekki, Lagos, saying only purpose, not looks, mattered.

In the twinkling of an eye, Nigerians remembered how his mother allegedly killed Momodu Ibrahim, a student at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), in May 2013, and started calling her an evil mother’s daughter.

“As per my mother being dragged for murder, to the best of my knowledge my mother who is now retired did not kill anyone,” the actress wrote on Instagram.

But the opprobrium directed her way was so hurtful she deactivated her Instagram account. Don’t ask us if she’s back; you probably know that one year is a long time in people’s memory!

LAGOS BUS SERVICE LIMITED

The Lagos Bus Service Limited (LBSL) incorporated in 2016 as a transport asset acquisition, operations, and advisory services company, suffered losses when hoodlums started burning buses across the state.

Terminals in Oyingbo, Berger and other parts of Lagos were razed, with many buses burnt down.

Lagos State Government revealed that 27 of the burnt Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) vehicles in the Oyingbo and Ojodu Berger areas of the state cost $200,000 each, while 57 of them cost $100,000 each, all totaling about N3.9 billion.

THE NATION & TVC

In the heat of the #EndSARS protest last year, the Nation Newspaper and Television Continental (TVC), reportedly owned by Bola Tinubu, a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), suffered huge blows as angry hoodlums who posed as protesters set their offices ablaze.

TVC’s studio was the first to be razed by the arsonists in the early hours on October 21, followed by The Nation’s headquarters at Matori in Lagos the same day.

Though The Nation and TVC have since resumed activities, the arsons left a mark.