State responses and management of public protests in Nigeria: A study of end SARS and end hunger protests in Lagos State

Abstract

The right to peaceful protest is an internationally recognized right enjoyed by citizens of countries all over the world. Enshrined in Section 39 and 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) it guarantee the rights of citizens to peacefully  assemble and express their opinions. However when protest degenerates into violence and wanton destruction of lives and properties,  the State's responses often become too repressive and rapacious exploiting the situation to silence dissent and opposition to the  government This study examines state responses and management of public protests in Nigeria, with a specific focus on the #EndSARS  and #EndHunger protests in Lagos State. The research investigates the motivations behind these movements, the dynamics of state- citizen interactions during the protests, and the strategies employed by the government and law enforcement agencies in handling the  unrest. This research explores the underlying causes, government reactions, and societal impacts of these movements. The #EndSARS  protests, which initially targeted police brutality, and the #EndHunger/ End Bad Governance protests, which emerged in response to  widespread high cost of living, bad shape of the economy, rising cost of food prices and broader issues of bad governance prompted this  research to analyze the effectiveness of state policies and strategies in addressing civil unrest.