William Iyobor John, a 21-year-old native of Benin City, Edo State, is recalling the day he lost his girlfriend, during the EndSARS nationwide protest on October 21, 2020.
The protest, which sought to end police brutality, extrajudicial killings, and the harassment of Nigerian youths by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), claimed many lives, leaving a lasting scar on those who participated.
“The End SARS protest started as a call for justice,” William explains. “Police brutality and unfair treatment had become a daily reality for many of us, and we wanted to take a stand.”
His girlfriend, Miss Favour Adolor had traveled from her village to join him in the protest without informing her parents. “She came to see me, and together, we decided to go to the protest ground at Ugbowo, near the University of Benin main gate,” he recounts.
According to William, the day began peacefully. He, along with other youths, took part in the demonstration, hoping to raise awareness about the injustices perpetrated by SARS.
“I stood on a desk with my girlfriend beside me, addressing the crowd. I spoke about the unlawful acts committed by SARS and the inhuman treatment of innocent people by the police force,” William shares.
However, the peaceful nature of the protest soon gave way to violence. “While I was speaking, we heard gunshots,” William says, his voice filled with emotion. “Anti-protesters and hoodlums, allegedly paid by the government to disrupt the protest, fired into the crowd.”
In the chaos, one of the bullets struck his girlfriend. “We tried everything to get help. We called for an ambulance, but by the time we got her to the hospital, it was too late. The bullet had hit a vital point in her body, and she was declared dead.”
The tragic loss of his girlfriend was a devastating blow, but William’s ordeal was far from over. His girlfriend’s family, especially her brothers, blamed him for her death. “They accused me of being the reason she left the village,” William recounts.
“They said if she was not in her way to see me, she would still be alive.” The grief-stricken brothers attacked him at the hospital, and William had to flee for his life. “The doctors intervened and saved me, but I had to leave immediately for my own safety,” he narrated.