The #StopRobbingUs campaign was spurred out of a Tweet on Saturday, September 28th 2019. In response to this, Bosun Tijani, the CEO of Co-creation Hub (CcHub) launched a campaign to protect young developers from unlawful arrest, harassment and false accusations of internet fraud.
On that fateful Saturday evening, the young Software Developer known as @toniastro_ took to his Twitter account to recount the gruesome event he encountered on his way back from work. He was allegedly dislodged from a ride-sharing motorbike, accused of internet fraud, taken to the station, physically assaulted and extorted by officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigerian police, SARS.
So yeah 😪, SARZ messed up my Saturday and I get to be locked up because I’m a software developer.
A thread.— Toni Astro (@toniastro_) September 28, 2019
This thread has aroused the sympathy of concerned citizens. It resonates the ongoing social media #EndSARS campaign against the continual harassment and extortion of innocent people by police officers. There have been several cases of innocent citizens incessantly mistook for fraudsters and labelled criminals for using laptops.
Some illiterate officers mistake anyone working in the tech space for “Yahoo Yahoo”, a term associated with cybercrime. Just because they don’t see physical goods or services being rendered, these officers end up wrongly blackmailing and accusing software developers. They go as far as arresting people for moving about with laptops.
See also: Highlights of TechCabal’s Mobility Townhall; a glance at Africa’s Logistics Sector
This thread has attracted the likes of Bosun Tijani who launched the #StopRobbingUs campaign and human rights activists, Segun Awosanya @segalink expressed disappointment and beckoned on the police force to put an end to this menace.
And you claim you are honest about a better #Nigeria? @MBuhari @ProfOsinbajo. Without your support, we came together and paved a path for young people and you still can't protect them? When will this stop? When? https://t.co/jaP5UtSz6j
— 'Bosun Tijani (@bosuntijani) September 28, 2019
We have been dealing with this for years now. A protocol was put in place that put a stop to this while we focused on the Police Reform Bill and the Police Trust Fund bill at the legislative but the new IGP thought otherwise and returned things to status quo. #EndImpunity https://t.co/uCsOrt9XMd
— SEGA L'éveilleur®🚨 (@segalink) September 28, 2019
Jason Njoku, the co-founder, and CEO of IrokoTV equally responded by contributing N10 million towards sponsoring the #StopRobbingUs campaign. Efforts are being made by notable tech leaders such as Iyin Aboyeji of Fluterwave, Chinedu Azodoh of Max.ng, Mark Essien of Hotel.ng and Oluyomi Ojo of Printivo to address this matter.
Its not alot. But I just reached out to @bosuntijani and committed N10m for the defence of helpless people at the hands of those who are supposed to defend us. Please reach out directly to him commit your own o. Even if it is N10k that's fine. Bias for action this time.
— JasonNjoku (@JasonNjoku) September 29, 2019
The fund is being managed by @EiENigeria and donations of over $30000 has been raised in less than 24 hours.
The fundraising effort backed by @theflutterwave has already seen donations in excess of N11,000,000 million (~$30,000) in less than 24hours, with funds still flooding in.#StopRobbingUs
— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) September 30, 2019
More on TechGist Africa:
- DRC, Tunisia Govt, Partner Bloc Smart Africa to promote Tech In Africa
- Call for Submission: UNICEF Innovation Fund set to Invest US$100k In Startups
- Estonia-based TAI+ Launches New App to Link Kenya truckers and Cargo shippers
- Egypt-based Health & Beauty Startup Glamera Secures $250k
- Microsoft & Mastercard Partners to Fund CyberPeace Institute
