It was a bloody Tuesday evening, the gory video clips and images that greeted social media showed bodies torn by bullets, and surrounded by protesters desperately trying to save their comrades. The firing squad from the Nigerian Army had lodged bullets into many, and with no medical help in sight, the people became their own doctors.

That was the situation in Lekki Toll Gate Lagos, where protests have been taking place since nearly two weeks now. The #EndSARS protest was a fight-back movement from Nigerian youths who have had enough of police brutality and empty government’s promises to address the excesses of the police.

Having drawn unprecedented attention from around the world, the campaign became a development that Nigeria’s government didn’t see coming, and doesn’t want to go on.

Repeatedly, the All Progressive Congress (APC)’s led governments called on protesters to call off the protest.

“Let me commend all our religious leaders, Christians and Muslims for their patriotism and high sense of responsibility at this sensitive time. I appeal to them to call on their teeming followers to call off the protests for now and give peace a chance.

“I also strongly appeal to the protesters – YOU HAVE MADE YOUR POINT. GOVERNMENT HAS MADE ITS COMMITMENT TO YOU. PLEASE, PLEASE AND PLEASE, CALL OFF THE PROTESTS. GIVE GOVERNMENT A CHANCE TO IMPLEMENT YOUR DEMANDS,” Bola Tinubu, APC’s national leader said in a statement.

In the afternoon of Tuesday, October, 20, 2020, the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu imposed a 24 hours curfew in the State, following reports of violence in some parts of Lagos. The curfew was to go into effect by 4. pm WAT, giving the State’s residents only a few hours to get home from their various places of work and business.

Considering the hectic Lagos traffic situation, the curfew was impossible to beat, and for protesters who had assembled at the Lekki Toll Gate from many parts of Lagos, the decision to stay put was unanimous. After all, they’re causing no harm; they are only armed with a message – End Police brutality.

In the past few days, the #EndSARS campaign has been met with fierce government’s resistance, in tacit ways to discredit the movement. In Abuja, Nigeria’s capital territory, Nigerian security forces were seen camera mobilizing thugs to attack protesters. In Benin, Edo State capital, South West Nigeria, a maximum prison was broken loose and inmates were let out, forcing the governor, Godwin Obaseki to order a 24 hours curfew.

The situation was not different in Lagos. There were reports of police stations being set on fire by hoodlums, following several attempts by hired thugs to quell the protest.

Despite the chaos masterminded by pro-government elements, the protesters have distanced themselves from trouble and maintained peace. Even the governments could not find a ground to accuse them of misconduct.

A few hours after the Lagos curfew was announced, the CCTV cameras attached to the Lekki Toll Gates were removed. Eyewitnesses said those who removed them claimed they were sent by the government. A move people believed to have been a signal of premeditated plot by the authorities to massacre the protesters.

The belief became true as the day went dark. Streets lights were turned off and soldiers who had earlier rolled in with APCs went to work.

“The CCTV cameras were carefully taken out, lights turned off & and then young Nigerian peaceful #EndSARS protesters were cut down in cold blood by heavily armed men. Sad & despicable! This is not democracy! This is evil!” that’s how Clement Nwankwo, described what happened next on Twitter.

The rest of the world was only able to get a wind of what was going on in the orchestrated darkness, when DJ Switch, a protester, went live on Instagram.

Over 130,000 people watched as soldiers’ bullets flew, hitting protesters who were seen fighting to live, but eventually died. Eyewitnesses said more than 11 persons were killed and soldiers took some of the dead bodies to conceal evidence. They said protesters were barricaded and the wounded were denied the chance to get medical help.

The Nigerian Army had earlier solicited government’s approval to wade in and quell the demonstrations. A statement issued by Acting Director Army Relations on 14th October, called protestors “subversive elements and trouble makers”, adding that the Army is willing to fully support civil authority in dealing with the situation decisively.

As the world struggles to come to terms with the unfolding horror, it becomes more troubling to many that Nigeria, a country faced with security challenges in many fronts, including Boko Haram and banditry, will choose to unleash its army on harmless citizens protesting police brutality.

“We can’t defeat BH, we can’t stop bandits, we cannot stop arm robbers but have guns and bullets to spare for peaceful protestors demanding for a functional police force? Tueh!” Nigerian Journalist Kadaria Ahmed said.

But it is a long held tradition by Nigerian security forces. Many see mass killings of unarmed Nigerians as a function of Nigerian government. There was the Odi massacre, Zaria massacre, Zaki Ibiam Massacre, Shiites massacre, IPOB etc. all executed by Nigerian security forces with all impunity.

While anger blazes against all principals in the government for the bloodbath, Sanwo-Olu takes the larger share. The Lagos State governor is seen as culpable for the removal of the cameras and the darkness that preluded the shooting.

In the wake of violence, his Oyo State counterpart, Sheyi Makinde beefed up security in the State to arrest thugs causing violence and protect protesters, a precedent many thought Sanwo-Olu should have followed.

As the world reacts in shock to the incident, the Nigerian government has kept mum. Sanwo-Olu said the attack was carried out by forces not under the control of the State, implying that it’s a federal government sanctioned attack.

“This is the toughest night of our lives as forces beyond our direct control have moved to make dark notes in our history, but we will face it and come out stronger,” he said, adding that he visited many of the victims at the hospital.

The former US Secretary of States Hilary Clinton lent her voice and asked the Nigerian government to stop killing its young ones.

“I’m calling on @mbuhari and the @hqnigerianarmy to stop killing young #EndSARS protesters. #StopNigerianGovernment,” she Tweeted.

Besides being a ground for peaceful protest that it has been in nearly two weeks, the Lekki Toll Gate was a mosque on Friday, a church on Sunday, and alas, a death ground on Tuesday. It has therefore become a tragic monument stained by the blood of people who were asking the police to spare their lives but got killed by soldiers.

Tesla announced on Monday it would begin to export its Model 3 cars from China to more than 10 countries in Europe this October, marking a major export from China since the US automaker opened its Shanghai factory last December.

China is gradually becoming a major hub for carmakers, and many of them are planning to sell their made-in China cars beyond Chinese market.

German carmaker BMW is also preparing to export its electric iX3 model, produced at a joint venture plant in Shenyang, China, to Europe, while Daimler is shifting production of its Smart branded city cars to Hangzhou Bay, according to Reuters.

Statement from Tesla said the 10 European countries include Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland.

The Chinese government reviewed its automobile manufacturing policies in 2018, to allow foreign companies to build cars and export to other countries from China, and has gradually improved the policies to be more tolerant since then.

“Support from Chinese government towards the industry, innovative local companies and customers embracing new technologies make China the best market for smart electric vehicles,” Tesla said, adding that it would expand car production, charging and sales networks in China.

In 1994, China issued a policy for its Automotive Industry. The 1994 Auto Policy introduced restrictions on foreign automakers owning more than 50 percent in any Sino foreign joint venture and also limits the foreign automakers to no more than 2 joint ventures for any single type of vehicle in China. There was the 50% + 2 rule, which limited the existence of many foreign automakers.

For years, the 50% + 2 rules were considered a necessary policy to buy local automakers time to gain skills, master the technology, and build the brands that will allow them to compete; before international automakers would be given access to the Chinese market.

Chinese policies on auto-maker and foreign investment were gradually eased as the country attained its goals for the automotive industry.

For instance, in 1995, China introduced the “Foreign Investment Catalogue” which detailed the shareholding limitation on foreign automakers. Since then, the Foreign Investment Catalogue has been amended eight times to reflect China’s evolving views on foreign investment’s role in industrial policy.

Generally, the Chinese policy was considered successful. China gradually became the world largest automaker, a position it has held since 2009. Having achieved its objective to this degree, China has been relaxing its policy on the automotive industry.

In 2018, Chinese authorities jointly issued the Special Administrative Measures for Admittance of Foreign Investment (2018 Negative List). The 2018 Negative List confirmed the pledge to fully remove foreign investment ownership limits on the auto industry over a 5-year transition period.

The relaxation of this rule has enabled foreign companies such as Elon Musk’s Tesla, to establish vehicle manufacturing plants in China, especially for EVs (electric vehicles). And there have been more beneficiaries of the short term policy relaxation window.

Apart from the policy reforms, China introduced subsidies and tax waivers for car manufacturers, which reduced the cost of production and encouraged buyers to embrace the more environmental friendly electric vehicles.

Tesla has won a major automobile market share in China, selling more than 11,000 Model 3 cars last month. It is also expanding its production capacity in the South Asian country with a new factory in Shanghai, where it plans to build its Model Y sport-utility vehicles.

Outside China, the world’s most valuable automaker is also planning to build a factory in Berlin Germany. The German government begins to toe the path of China by introducing subsidies up to 9,000 euros for buyers of electric cars, including Tesla’s Model 3, according to Reuters.

Tesla has a production target of 150,000 vehicles this year from its Shanghai factory. More Western automakers, including those from the US, are preparing to establish in China, even as the tension between Washington and Beijing is escalating.

You don’t dare steal in Nigerian open markets. It’s not because you will be caught and disgraced, but because you are most likely going to get caught and lynched. Maybe not all the markets will kill suspects, but many do. Some will only beat the living daylight out of the person and hand him over to the police, while others will burn him alive. Many will claim they lynched the person because the police will release him, while others will say they wanted to teach the “thief” a lesson. No one will remember the law and its condemnation of extrajudicial killings (aka jungle justice).

I know some people will jump in and claim that jungle justice is meted out on “thieves”, “kidnappers”, “rapists” and so on because the police will collect bribes and let them go. I also know people will say something like, “These people have not done anything to you and that’s why you’re saying all these.” Well, it’s not about me or my experiences; it’s about our culture of disobedience to law, aggression and brutality.

A mother, whose son became unruly and talked back to her raised pestle and runs after the boy; please, what message is she exactly passing on to that child? A father, whose daughter told that the teacher punished her, decided to accompany her to school the following day so he can slap the teacher; please, what information is he passing on to the child and to the other children? That man, whose son complained about being bullied but decided to beat his son for being a weakling and instructed him to fight his bullies; please, what did he expect the child to become? You can fill the gaps but I believe we all get the message.

I know some people will ask what the relationship between police brutality and the few examples cited above is, but I believe they understood that Nigerians train their children to become violent. Apart from that, we train them to break the law. We also give them the impression that we, their parents, can kill them and nothing will happen, hence the mother pursuing her son with a pestle. So here are two messages the examples given above say about Nigerians: we are all above the law and we use brutality to control.

Bringing the above analogy to police brutality may be shady but I will try to make it as clear as possible. However, I think an excerpt from Twitter can paint this picture better.

A Twitter user, Dr. Charles Omole, @DrCOmole, came up to voice his opinion concerning the causes of police brutality in Nigeria. In his tweet, he stated, “Many of those protesting SARS brutality are also first to beat and lynch suspected criminals in the public square. Jungle justice is an epidemic in Nigeria. The penchant for taking laws into their hands is not limited to SARS. We must examine ourselves and reform our thinking too.”

Of course you can imagine the type of response he will receive for being bold to make such a statement when a lot of people cowered and would not be honest with the underlying causes of our problems. But one comment from a very young Nigerian caught my attention. This young Twitter user wrote, “Pls how is brutalising innocent citizens the same as brutalising wicked criminals? SARS will hurt and probably kill someone for not giving up their rights. Have {you} seen armed robbers in action? So how can you even try to equate the two?” And so the very young Nigerian decides who should be lynched and who shouldn’t. And believe me, his mindset towards jungle justice was framed and solidified by his parents and the society.

Let’s be honest with ourselves; Nigerians are very aggressive. We treat the gentle in our community as weak. We undermine the authority of the Nigerian police unless it involves SARS. People started renting SARS officials for debt collection when they found out that’s the only police unit Nigerians fear. Even courts cannot instil discipline into Nigerians the way SARS does (no pun intended). We learn things the hard way and so we were hit the hard way.

Now, I am not in support of brutality, be it from the police or from anyone else, I am only saying that we have wired ourselves to be brutal and to only respond to issues when it becomes brutal. Unless we do things in the ideal way, police brutality will not end. We are just running around the vicious cycle. The police brutality is only reflecting the true Nigerian society.