Read on Twitter
Thread on the History of Colonization & Policing in Nigeria
[info pulled from "Colonialism and Violence in Nigeria by Toyin Falola]
The Nigerian Police and Military have always served the social, political, and economic interest of European colonizers. #SarsMustGo
[info pulled from "Colonialism and Violence in Nigeria by Toyin Falola]
The Nigerian Police and Military have always served the social, political, and economic interest of European colonizers. #SarsMustGo
Between 1492-1800s, Over 3.5 Million Africans in present-day Nigeria were violently trafficked into slavery and brought to the “Americas” to labor for Europeans [ sugar, rice, tobacco, etc] colonies and accumulate wealth and power for Europeans. #SarsMustGo
Slavery "ended" in the mid 1800s. In 1884, European elites came together for the Berlin Conference where they decided that Africans had no claim to their land, created a racial hierarchy, and made a plan to expand the exploit African land, labor, and resources. #SarsMustGo
The period between 1881-1914 is called the “Scramble for Africa” . Europeans burned villages and sacred buildings, terrorized, jailed and killed elders, deployed police and army to take over land, and imposed European law, religion and authority. #SarsMustGo
Police and military forces were established in key economic areas, specifically along the coast for access to trade and in the Niger Delta and surrounding areas that had access to oil, land, minerals. In 1862, the British established the first military unit in Lagos. #SarsMustGo
In 1879, the Royal Niger Company police was established. In 1888, the Niger Coast police. In 1896, the Lagos Police. These forces were equipped with military weapons and trained to steal more land, fight Nigerian chiefs/kings, and protect the colonial governments. #SarsMustGo
Because of the geography and de-centralized structure, direct military rule proved difficult. In 1900, European warlord Lugard established “indirect rule” where individual Igbos were placed into leadership such as “warrant chief” in order to expand British domination #SarsMustGo
These warrant chiefs used the newly established “native courts” to impose colonial law. Nigerians who did not accept colonial rule were arrested and punished. Additional laws were created to repress any type of resistance. #SarsMustGo
For example, the Collective Punishment Ordinance of 1909 empowered colonial officers to punish a group, a village, or a whole town for the "transgressions" of a member. Violent colonial master Douglas' goal was to produce unquestioned respect for the white man. #SarsMustGo
Obviously, the more the people protested, the more violent Douglas's responses became. There were countless wars and various forms resistance especially among women in Southeastern Nigeria. #SarsMustGo
Douglas used violence to force Igbo people to build roads and houses for colonial masters. Communities that refused to serve were punished, individuals who expressed their grievances were warned, and chiefs were told to surrender rebellious men to the government. #SarsMustGo
The roads that Nigerians were coerced to build made it easier for the police and army to move between economic posts and to respond and repress any acts of resistance among the natives. The Nigerian police/ military have always served European interests #SarsMustGo
Ad hoc Nigerian armies sprang up that used spears, bows and arrows, and even machetes against British armies that were using more powerful Maxim and Gatling guns. When resistance collapsed quickly, it was not because of a lack of will/manpower; but inferior technology #SarsMustGo
“A number of Nigerian groups (as in the case of the Igbo) and leaders (as in the case of Koko) resorted to preemptive wars, attacking those about to impose control on them in the hope of stopping the process.” #SarsMustGo
“Many rejected the option of negotiation, refusing to sign treaties meant to end their sovereignty,ignoring the diplomatic option that would lead to their subjugation.” There is a rich history of resistance against slavery, colonialism, imperialism, and neocolonialism #SarsMustGo
Today, imperialism in Nigeria continues. Nigeria is the largest oil and gas producer in Africa.
The United States and European powers need oil to make more weapons, to go to war to steal more land and resources, to extract more wealth. #SarsMustGo
The United States and European powers need oil to make more weapons, to go to war to steal more land and resources, to extract more wealth. #SarsMustGo
U.S. companies like Shell and Chevron are responsible for millions of deaths, environmental disaster, and constant intracommunal violence. Thousands of people in the Niger-Delta are being pushed off their lands to expand U.S. wealth #SarsMustGo
Now, the U.S. and its’ European allies are using the “war of terror” to expand military domination on the African continent. This is called AFRICOM.
The U.S. is equipping and training Nigerian police/ military to “fight terrorism” aka expand U.S economic control. #SarsMustGo
The U.S. is equipping and training Nigerian police/ military to “fight terrorism” aka expand U.S economic control. #SarsMustGo
Our struggles in the U.S. are directly tied to what’s happening in Nigeria.
Many slave revolts in the U.S. were led by people trafficked from present-day Nigeria. Our destinies are connected. Africa must be free for Black people in the U.S. to be free. #SarsMustGo
Many slave revolts in the U.S. were led by people trafficked from present-day Nigeria. Our destinies are connected. Africa must be free for Black people in the U.S. to be free. #SarsMustGo
Since 1492, the U.S. and its’ European allies work together to exploit African land, resources, and labor to fill their pockets. Africa has so many raw materials and the neo-colonial leaders profit while the African masses suffer all over the world.
#SarsMustGo
#SarsMustGo
Prior to 1990s, U.S. focused on the Middle East and North Africa, but began to expand to West Africa and enter into agreements to engage in military exercises, training programs, and increased weapons. These are the tactics you see in streets of Nigeria now. #SarsMustGo https://twitter.com/theafrolegalise/status/1314576815856386049
Been wanting to revisit the fact the U.K. And U.S. been investing in construction of new prisons in Ghana and Nigeria . Abolition must be international https://twitter.com/Ileri_Jaiy14/status/1315750969553104896
Five years ago U.K. And Ghana signed an agreement to start the transfer of incarcerated Ghanaians in U.K. to prisons in Ghana https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-and-ghana-sign-prison-transfer-agreement
Last year the U.K. Government invest millions into Ghana to build and maintain prisons https://kuulpeeps.com/2019/12/24/uk-govt-invests-gh%E2%82%B53-5m-into-decongesting-ghanas-prisons/news
Similarly, UK pledged to build prisons in Lagos to transfer incarcerated Nigerians in UK to Nigeria. They are trying to expand the prison industrial complex. Abolition must be international #SarsMustGo #SARSMUSTEND https://www.ft.com/content/caecd882-22cc-11e8-ae48-60d3531b7d11
