Two Years in Exile: Family of #EndSARS Organizer Still Living in Fear
By Ayo Akins Immanuel
Nearly two years after the #EndSARS protests that swept across Nigeria in October 2020, the family of one of its key organizers, Mr. Sheriff Olufemi Ashekun, remains under quiet but constant threat – while the Activist himself continues to live in exile.
Mr. Ashekun, a Youth Leader affiliated with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kosofe Local Government in Gbagada area of Lagos was one of the Coordinators of a peaceful protest against police brutality that turned violent when military forces allegedly opened fire on demonstrators. Mr. Ashekun narrowly escaped an assassination attempt that night. He fled the country days later and has not returned since.
In a rare interview with Dailydispatch, one of his close family members who requested anonymity due to safety concerns, described the family’s ongoing ordeal.
“Sheriff may have escaped with his life, but we’ve been paying the price ever since”, she said. We are treated like enemies in our own community. Strange men come to our street, asking questions. We still don’t sleep well at night”
According to the family, their home was once raided without a warrant, and Sheriff’s father, a retired civil servant, was detained and interrogated in late 2021. To date, no formal charges have been brought and no explanation has been given.
The family also experienced frustration over the lack of accountability since the 2020 protests.
“What hurts most is the silence. No one has been held accountable. Sheriff led a peaceful protest. He didn’t commit a crime but he can’t come home.
Sheriff’s case is one of many. Human Rights groups have documented dozens of similar situations where the #EndSARS organizations and protesters were forced into hiding, arrested or exiled. Amnesty international recently released a report calling on Nigerian Authorities to reopen investigations into the October 2020 incidents and protect the rights of protesters and their families.
For now, the Ashekun family waits – without justice, without protection, and their son.
