The 2020 EndSARS protest in Nigeria represents one of the most significant youth-led social movements in contemporary Nigerian history. Triggered by persistent human rights abuses by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force, the protest rapidly evolved into a nationwide and global campaign demanding police reform, accountability, and good governance. This study examines the historical roots of police brutality in Nigeria, the socio-economic consequences of the EndSARS protest, and its influence on youth migration to foreign countries. Using a qualitative research design based on secondary sources, including academic journals, newspaper reports, and human rights publications, the study adopts structural-functionalist theory to analyze state failure and institutional dysfunction. Findings reveal that the protest exposed deep structural weaknesses within Nigeria’s political and economic systems, worsened economic instability, and significantly intensified youth migration aspirations. The paper concludes that without meaningful police reform, youth empowerment, and economic restructuring, Nigeria risks continued brain drain and socio-political instability.
Keywords: EndSARS, Police Brutality, Youth Migration, Nigeria, Protest, Governance
Article-18-Mikail-Abiola.-ENDSARS-PROTEST-IN-2020_012026