The renewed calls for Nnamdi Kanu’s release have once again drawn attention to Nigeria’s long tradition of protest politics — moments when citizens challenged authority to demand justice, reform, and accountability.
From the Aba Women’s Riot to the End SARS movement, protests have consistently served as a measure of Nigeria’s democratic pulse, offering a platform for citizens to confront power and inspire national reflection.
As Nigerians mobilise once again over Kanu’s continued detention, here are five landmark protests that shaped the country’s political and social evolution:
1. The Aba Women’s Riot (1929)
Location: Eastern Nigeria (Owerri and Calabar provinces)
Thousands of Igbo women took to the streets when the colonial government attempted to impose taxes on them, threatening their economic independence and traditional authority.
According to Blackpast, the women feared that such taxation would destroy their trading livelihoods and disrupt food supply in their communities.
By November 1929, thousands of women assembled at Native Administration centres across southeastern Nigeria to protest against warrant chiefs and the proposed tax. Using traditional forms of resistance such as “sitting on a man,” they sang, danced, and mocked corrupt officials, forcing some to resign.
The demonstrations intensified, leading to attacks on European shops, banks, and colonial courts, many of which were set ablaze. In retaliation, colonial police fired at protesters in Calabar and Owerri, killing more than 50 women and injuring many others.
Over two months, about 25,000 women participated in the revolt. The British authorities were compelled to withdraw the tax plan and reassess the warrant chief system. The uprising exposed the weaknesses of indirect rule and became one of the earliest organized resistances to colonial authority led entirely by women.
2. The ‘Ali Must Go’ Protests (1978)
Location: Universities nationwide
A 50 kobo increase in tuition and feeding fees under General Olusegun Obasanjo’s military regime sparked widespread student protests led by the National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS) and its president, Segun Okeowo.
Before the hike, students paid ₦1.50 for three daily meals, a subsidy that allowed many from modest backgrounds to study without hardship. The increase to ₦2.00 was viewed as excessive and insensitive.
Led by Okeowo, NUNS mobilised resistance across campuses through pamphlets and meetings. Protests spread to universities in Ibadan, Ife, Lagos, and Zaria, where students boycotted classes and took to the streets under the chant “Ali Must Go,” calling for the resignation of Colonel Ahmadu Ali.
The demonstrations turned violent as security forces clashed with students. Though NUNS was later banned, the government reviewed its policy. The movement cemented radical student activism as a vital voice in Nigeria’s political culture.
3. The June 12 Protests (1993)
Location: Lagos and South-West Nigeria
The annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election — widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest, and believed to have been won by Chief M.K.O. Abiola — ignited nationwide protests.
Military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida’s decision to nullify the poll on June 23 sparked outrage, leading civil society groups, labour unions, and pro-democracy movements like the Campaign for Democracy (CD) and NADECO to organise mass demonstrations.
Protests, particularly intense in Lagos and other South-West states, led to clashes with security forces and several deaths. Mounting public pressure eroded the regime’s legitimacy, forcing Babangida to step aside in August 1993 and hand power to an interim government led by Chief Ernest Shonekan.
The agitation persisted through subsequent regimes until Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. Today, June 12 is celebrated as Democracy Day, symbolising the people’s resistance against electoral injustice and their pursuit of democratic governance.
4. Occupy Nigeria (2012)
Location: Nationwide, with major rallies in Lagos and Abuja
On January 1, 2012, President Goodluck Jonathan’s government removed the fuel subsidy, causing petrol prices to surge from ₦65 to ₦141 per litre overnight. The increase led to higher transport fares and inflated prices of basic goods, sparking widespread outrage.
For nearly two weeks, labour unions and civil society groups organised nationwide strikes and demonstrations, particularly in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Enugu. Social media played a key role in mobilising protesters, marking one of Nigeria’s first major online-driven movements.
Faced with growing pressure, the government eventually reduced fuel prices to ₦97 per litre.
5. End SARS (2020)
Location: Nationwide and in the diaspora
The End SARS protests erupted in October 2020 following years of anger over police brutality, extortion, and killings by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). A viral video of an alleged police shooting in Ughelli, Delta State, triggered the nationwide demonstrations.
The youth-led protests, coordinated through social media under the hashtag #EndSARS, spread across cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan, with solidarity marches in London, Toronto, and Washington D.C.
Without central leadership, the movement relied on crowdfunding and volunteer networks, notably the Feminist Coalition. Initially peaceful, protests later turned violent due to clashes with security forces and suspected hired thugs.
The movement reached a tragic climax on October 20, 2020, when security personnel reportedly opened fire on peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos.
In response, the Federal Government disbanded SARS and promised police reforms. The End SARS movement not only led to the dissolution of a notorious police unit but also redefined public activism in Nigeria’s democratic history.
