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Rihanna, Kanye West and Big Sean back EndSARS protests after violence erupts in Nigeria: 'World is watching'

Nigerians have been protesting against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit of the Nigeria Police Force, after a video of officers allegedly killing a man emerged on the Internet

Putting their social media accounts to good use, music artistes Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, Big Sean, Jidenna and Chance The Rapper among a few others have come out to speak against the ongoing violence in Nigeria in the wake of the #EndSARS movement. According to the publication Vibe, several demonstrators were killed while protesting against police brutality and it was also reported that a lot of them were left injured after soldiers opened fire at a protest site in Lekki district of Lagos on October 20.

Rihanna, who is 1 million short of 100 million followers on Twitter, posted two photos of the Nigerian flag and captioned it as, “#ENDSARS” along with an emoticon of the Nigerian flag and closed hand which signifies revolution and protest. One of the pics shows the flag covered in blood, while  the other pic is a screenshot from Rihanna’s Instagram story where the singer wrote, “I can’t bare to see this torture and brutalization that is continuing to affect nations across our planets! It’s such a betrayal to the citizens, the very people put in place to protect are the ones we are most afraid of being murdered by. My heart is broken for Nigeria man!!! It is unbearable to watch! I’m so proud of your strength and not letting up on the fight for what’s rights!”

Expressing the same feelings, rapper Nicki Minaj also took to her official Twitter and posted, “Standing with & praying for the brave young people of Nigeria who are on the front lines of this senseless violence. Your voice is being heard. #endSARS”

Chance The Rapper tweeted, “There is a massacre happening in Lekki. Firing squads mass murdering young people in Nigeria. The world needs to engage #endSARS” whereas Jidenna posted, “My God.  Seeing the mayhem back home is heartbreaking. Be safe during the curfew, fam. The demonstrations will resume but tonight, be wise. The crooked politicians, police, & business tycoons paying people to disrupt, assault, & kill protestors cannot kill the truth. #EndSARS” Rapper Big Sean also spoke on the same lines and added, “Nigeria!!! Y’all on my heart! It’s horrific over there! So many people being murdered for peaceful protesting about being murdered! #EndSARS”

Also, Kanye West was one of the early supporters who had posted a tweet on October 13, 2020, regarding the same. He had tweeted, “I stand with my Nigerian brothers and sisters to end police brutality, the government must answer to the peoples cries #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria”

Looking at what’s happening in Nigeria, a lot of people condemned the police brutality and supported the #EndSARS movement. One Nigerian citizen shared a photo of the situation there and said, “We are not living in Nigeria, we are merely surviving. Gosh!  I'm heart broken really heart broken I can't rest until these so called leaders make our home save for us we really need to speak on this issue @DONJAZZY @rihanna @aphroDIJA @officialdeezell #Endsars.” Another thanked Rihanna and said, “tears in my eyes right now thank you riri for posting this we need help they r killing us in Nigeria.”

One user stated, “I am depressed. My heart craves for vengeance. I witnessed how Nigeria lost her finest youths to #LekkiMassacre. Rest on my beloved comrades we will avenge your death. We will #EndSARS” Another added, “They turned off the lights so they could kill and hide the bodies and say they went missing!! The world is watching and this will not be forgotten!!!!! NIGERIA BLEEDS TODAY #ENDSARS.”

According to Rap-up, the citizens of Nigeria have been protesting against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit of the Nigeria Police Force, after a video emerged of officers allegedly killing a man. The hashtag #EndSARS soon began trending around the world as protests continue across the West African country.