Nigeria at a Crossroads - Stop Killing Our Children! #EndSARS

Influential Nigerians are expressing heartbreak and anger at the violence the country's security forces launched this week against peaceful protesters in Lagos - the commercial center of the country - and in other towns and cities. Demonstrators, mostly young people, are demanding reforms, including an end to military and police corruption and brutality against citizens and for an effective government that enables education, jobs, and energy - in a country of nearly 200 million without a reliable national electric supply. Reactions to the crackdown included violence and vandalism, which many observers said was incited, at least partly, by non-protesters. Guest columns by Toyin Saraki and Kingsley Moghalu, as well as an appeal by Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka from AllAfrica media partner Premium Times, show the support of Nigeria's 'elders' for the young activists. Late on October 22, with the country of nearly 200 million people still roiled by turmoil, President Muhammadu Buhari addressed the nation. "Your voices have been heard," he said, appealing to Nigerians to leave the streets to work with officials to achieve their demands.