The sensitization event was held amidst recent controversy on the reports of the Lagos judicial panel for the ENDSARS incidences of 2020. The ENDSARS protest which marked calls by young Nigerians for the disbandment of the SARS unit (Special anti-robbery squad) in 2020, had gone from bad to worst last year with debates about killings at the Lekki Toll gate. According to Amnesty International, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is responsible for hundreds of extrajudicial executions, other unlawful killings and enforced disappearances each year.
Furthermore, he added that the Backup NYSC tour had similarities to the University tour which began last week at the University of Abuja. The purpose of both sensitization visits was geared towards educating young Nigerians on human rights violations and giving them a voice through technology.
The NYSC CDS event which was held at the NAFDAC CDS Group, old parade ground Abuja, featured a product showcase of backup and a question-and-answer session. Youth Corp members were educated about Backup, its attractive features, and ways it can be deployed. The Backup App was launched on the 20th October 2021 by the Cans Foundation in partnership with the Open Society of West Africa (OSIWA) and the mobile application was created to solve the rising case of police brutality among Nigerian Youths.
The sensitization event was held amidst recent controversy on the reports of the Lagos judicial panel for the ENDSARS incidences of 2020. The ENDSARS protest which marked calls by young Nigerians for the disbandment of the SARS unit (Special anti-robbery squad) in 2020, had gone from bad to worst last year with debates about killings at the Lekki Toll gate. According to Amnesty International, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is responsible for hundreds of extrajudicial executions, other unlawful killings and enforced disappearances each year.
To give young people a voice and strengthen data collection and retention in cases of brutality, the CANs foundation has trained stakeholders on the backend use of the App in line with its vision to impact lives by leveraging technology. Therefore, Backup could not have come at a better time. The foundation has over the years created impact-driven platforms such as UNSUB, a platform for the reporting of gender-based violence, Engage, a platform for engagement citizen engagement and Rise a Covid relief intervention Platform, which has gone on to receive tremendous support since its Launch.
