By: Godswill Ezeonyeka & Abhiram Thiruthummal
This interactive network visualizes social media users who shared posts about the #EndSARS movement. Each node represents one individual. Follow these steps to explore and discover content:
Note: Zooming in makes it easier to select individual nodes.
Use the category buttons to narrow your search:
Filtering helps you quickly find the type of activist you’re interested in.
Once a node is selected, the user’s posts will load in the player panel.
Use the left and right arrow buttons to scroll through different posts.
If a caption is cut off, simply scroll down within the caption area to view the full text.
If you experience any display issues, try reloading the page.
Experiment with clicking around and using different filters to see varied perspectives of the #EndSARS conversation.
By following these steps, you can seamlessly explore the network, discover individual voices, and dive deep into the conversations surrounding the #EndSARS movement. Enjoy your exploration!
Godswill Ezeonyeka is a PhD candidate at Coventry University’s Centre for Postdigital Cultures in the Postdigital Intimacies research strand. He holds an MA in Communication, Culture, and Media, informing his work in participatory documentaries and poetry films. His research examines how documentary filmmaking highlights diverse narratives in Nigerian social media activism, focusing on the #EndSARS movement.
Abhiram Anand Thiruthummal earned a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Physics from the Indian Institute of Science and an M.Sc. in Data Science from the University of Bath. Currently pursuing a PhD at Coventry University, his research focuses on applying mathematics and machine learning to challenges in physical and social sciences.
Supervisors
Dr. Sarah Kate Merry
Dr. Marcus Maloney
Dr. Adrienne Evans
Special acknowledgement
Ayomide Adeleke
For any legal enquiries or further information about this site, please contact us at info.networkednarratives@gmail.com.
#EndSARS is a social movement that called for the end of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigerian Police Force. SARS has been widely condemned for its history of profiling, harassment, and brutality against Nigerian citizens. Although the movement began on Twitter in 2017 under the hashtag #EndSARS, it was in October 2020 that it truly captured global attention. A viral video showing police brutally assaulting a young man sparked widespread outrage and brought the urgent demands for police reform to the international stage. In the following days, from October 7 to October 20, 2020, Nigerians around the world took to the streets in protest, sharing their experiences and calls for justice on social media. Further acts of activism have followed since this peak period, with ongoing digital advocacy, memorial protests, and continued demands for accountability.
This website, Stories of #EndSARS, is a presentation of our social network analysis of the visual artefacts created during the protests. We have gathered posts from 117 individuals to reveal how their shared narratives and images are interconnected. Each visual artefact—whether a photograph, video, or livestream—captures the spirit of the movement and the power of digital storytelling. In this research, we define activists as individuals who took deliberate action through digital engagement to drive socio-political change.
In order to capture the full range of voices behind #EndSARS, we carefully categorised participants based on their online presence and involvement in the movement. Our framework comprises five groups. Celebrity activists (35) are public figures who, while known for pursuits beyond activism, have lent their influence to the cause. Circumstantial activists (8) share personal stories that are deeply connected to the movement. Activists in Diaspora (21) include Nigerians participating from abroad. Established activists (22) are those who actively support a range of social causes and identify as campaigners on their profiles. Finally, Low-profile activists (31) are individuals whose engagement is predominantly focused on #EndSARS, representing a more specialised form of involvement. This categorisation helps to reflect the diverse experiences and contributions that have shaped the movement.
While many studies have focused on Twitter’s role in the movement, we also highlight the important contributions of other social media platforms particularly Instagram. Instagram’s focus on visual content made it a key tool for documenting the protests and mobilising support. The images and videos shared on Instagram not only informed the world about what was happening in Nigeria but also helped to build a strong, unified voice against injustice.
By mapping the social network of these individuals that shared their lived experiences on Instagram, our website provides a clear view of how visual narratives are constructed and shared across a network of diverse individuals. You can explore the network by clicking on nodes to see the posts made by each individual. This analysis helps us understand how digital visuals played a crucial role in shaping the #EndSARS movement and in connecting people both in Nigeria and around the world.
We invite you to explore this site to learn more about the #EndSARS movement, see the visual artefacts that defined it, and appreciate how social media transformed protest into a powerful, global conversation.
This website does feature content sourced from social media platforms. Some of the materials may include images, names, videos, captions, or other identifiable information. Although efforts have been made to redact the names and usernames of the individuals who posted the content, certain identifiable elements may still be present. These materials were public and consequently obtained from social media platforms as of the date and time of curation. The use of such content complies with the legal doctrine of fair dealing under UK copyright law, as outlined in the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. This use is for purposes including, but not limited to, education, commentary, exhibition, review, or other recognised forms of fair dealing.
We acknowledge and respect the intellectual property rights of all content owners. If you, as the owner of any content featured on this website, wish to request the removal of such material, please contact us directly. Upon receipt of a valid request, we will make reasonable efforts to remove the content in a respectful and timely manner.
Please note that this website does not accept liability for any content posted. Responsibility for the content remains with the individual who originally posted it on the respective social media platform. The website’s role is solely to facilitate the lawful use of such material under the doctrine of fair dealing.
This policy is in place to ensure compliance with UK copyright law, and we are committed to addressing and resolving any reasonable requests for content removal.
For any legal enquiries or further information about this site, please contact us at info.networkednarratives@gmail.com
