Nigeria to America

In this interview, Hally shares her knowledge and experience with the End SARS movement, as well as discussing what it was like to emigrate from Nigeria to the United States.

What is the End SARS movement?

Police brutality is a sensitive issue that affects nations all around the world, with many civilians standing up to authority to protect themselves and each other. In Nigeria, the End SARS movement–a series of mass protests–has been undertaken by civilians to rise up against this social conflict.

A girl carries a placard reading “Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Kill, SARS Rape, SARS Extort, End SARS Now” on the road to a government house in continuation of an ongoing demonstration to call for the scrapping of the controversial police unit at Ikeja, on October 9, 2020. (Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP via Getty Images)

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was a branch of the Nigerian Police Force, created in 1992, meant to specifically address crimes related to robbery, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and firearms. Despite their responsibility to protect the people of Nigeria, SARS officers have been repeatedly linked to crimes including murder, extortion, torture, kidnapping, rape, and home invasions, among other offenses.

On October 11th, 2020, SARS was disbanded after only a few days of renewed protest. In its place, the Nigerian Police Force announced that it would be putting together a new unit, called Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), which would be assigned the same duties.

Immediately after this new unit was announced, many protestors in support of the End SARS movement took to social media with the hashtag #EndSWAT, fearing that police corruption would not end with the disbandment of SARS and would carry over to the new unit. In recent years, similar announcements had been made to appease the public, only for the government to keep the same, corrupt system in place.

A woman holds a homemade sign that reads “the power of the people is stronger than the people in power #EndSARSNow #EndPoliceBrutality.” The End SARS protests have been led primarily by young Nigerian citizens. (Photo via BBC News)

In response to the protests, the Nigerian Police Force has responded with violent repression, even going as far as to kill protesters.

SARS officers have been known to target specific citizens, mostly young males, based on their appearance of wealth through fashion choices, personal property, tattoos, and hairstyles. The officers are also famous for conducting unwarranted checks and searches, as well as extorting citizens who own expensive devices, such as laptops, iPhones, and exotic cars.

a recent photo taken of Hally during her trip to Nigeria in 2019

a photograph of Hally as a young child living in Nigeria

To find out more about the End SARS movement, I sat down with one of my friends, Haleemot (Hally) Adeyanju, who moved from Nigeria to the United States at the age of seven, to discuss her experience with police brutality and moving to a new country.

In her recent visit to her homeland of Nigeria in 2019, Hally experienced the looming threat of the SARS firsthand. Throughout her visit, Hally was compelled to dress a certain way, not wanting to appear too wealthy, in order to fit in and avoid any unwanted attention from officers. As Hally traveled throughout the country with family members, their car was unlawfully stopped by an officer who had to be paid a cash bribe before he would let the car out of his sight.

Hally is very passionate about the End SARS movement, seeking the right of Nigerian citizens to enjoy a safe and comfortable lifestyle–something that may not be possible as long as the SARS or SWAT squads exist with their current level of corruption. The majority of corrupt SARS officers are motivated to participate in these unjust acts as a way to make extra money to compensate for their low salary–helping themselves while preying on others.

Immigrating from the United States to Nigeria

When Hally was seven-years-old, her parents moved their family to the United States with the hope of ensuring a better future for their children. To the Adeyanju family, one of the most attractive features of the United States was its education system, which is a vast improvement over the corrupted and underdeveloped education system in Nigeria.

As a young child moving to a foreign country, Hally faced many challenges that come with adjusting to a new life in an unknown place, including, but not limited to transferring to a new style of learning and figuring out how to make new friends.

Photo taken by Hally from a car window during her trip to Nigeria.

When asked about the benefits of moving to the United States, Hally listed that not having to worry as much about the condition of the education system or the nation’s economy, as well as being able to live a more financially comfortable life, all top the list.

Hally compares her life in the United States to her cousins in Nigeria, noting that they live two completely different lifestyles, from nutrition to education and everywhere in between. Although Hally longs for the culture of her home country, specifically the diverse taste in food and music across the nation, she is grateful for the opportunity to come to the United States.

For more information about the End SARS movement, please visit the following websites and articles:

(all photos included in the interview video are sourced from these links)

RELEASED NOVEMBER 14, 2020

DIRECTED BY HANNAH D'ORSO

STARRING HALEEMOT ADEYANJU

What is the End SARS movement?

a recent photo taken of Hally during her trip to Nigeria in 2019

a photograph of Hally as a young child living in Nigeria

Immigrating from the United States to Nigeria

For more information about the End SARS movement, please visit the following websites and articles: