How Segalink Is Becoming The People’s Hero
There is only one name that first comes to mind when Nigerian youths find themselves at the mercy of errant SARS operatives – Segalink.
How has Segun Awosanya earned the people’s trust so much that they are willing to disturb his sleep at 2 am when police operatives harass, assault, extort and even kill young citizens, despite that there are Divisional Police Officers, Police Commissioners, Police Inspector-General, Senators, Governors and even President?
How has a common man become the people’s hero?
The Genesis
In 2015, young Nigerians started to face undue harassment, assault and extortion from SARS (a unit which was founded circa 2006 and tasked to combat rampant cases of armed robbery and other violent crimes). At least 20 young Nigerians have lost their lives in the process, with many undocumented others.
The PCRRU’s records show that it has received about 10,000 complaints from victims of police harassment across the country in the past five years.
The Man, Segalink
Segun Awosanya, a 43-year-old Business & Strategic Digital Communication Consultant, has selflessly made himself available to victims of police assault.
Segalink has led several #EndSARS campaigns on the social platforms, becoming an unofficial face and voice for oppressed youths in the country.
“When my friend got illegally detained, it was Segalink connection that helped get him out and our money back. I messaged Sega and he responded and even made a call to my friend. As long as police brutality is a thing, Sega deserves ALL the accolades he gets,” one Twitter user, Matachi said.
Many young Nigerians have access to his personal lines which he freely gives out, not minding the security implications, and he rises to the occasion as if his life depends on it.
“We do what we do for humanity as proverbial martyrs to the truth and justice,” Segalink tells Neusroom.
The Impact
Segalink says his firm records 50-100 complaints per day with higher numbers on the weekend and holidays.
As he tells Neusroom, “recoveries only a month across Nigeria is in Millions averaging hundreds of thousands per week. Lagos state records the highest as well as most Southern states and the FCT.”
But for the trust that many youths have in the man to get them justice, they may have been pushed to fight back at their oppressors. The mention of Awosanya’s name has been said to cause officers to shake in their boots and even the PCRRU has been forced to be efficiently responsive to citizens’ complaints.
Through his intervention, at least 20 police officers have been made to face tough sanctions in the past three years.
A Man With Flaws
While Awosanya has warmed his way into the hearts of Nigerian youths, he has had his fair share of critics. He has been accused of playing partisan politics, as well as other unfounded claims of fraud.
At the height of the backlash, one Twitter user, Omawumi said “No Segalink slander will be tolerated. I don’t care what you have against him but for how he helps and advocates for Nigerian citizens -mostly people he doesn’t know personally, he ought to be celebrated.”
“I don’t do this often but let me say this now. If you slander Segalink on my TL from now on, I will block you. It’s simple,” another person, Dolapo Oni said.
The Future
With the IGP and Presidency seemingly uninterested in the people’s cries for sanity in the police system, Awosanya has said that he won’t be backing down from the fight.
“There is no retirement from this, neither is there an expectation of applause, accolades, external validation or veneration,” Awosanya says.
SARS and police harassment is still prevalent in Nigeria, and as far as the youths are concerned, they may have found their angel on earth in Segalink.
But the man who has selflessly saddled himself with the responsibility of sanitising a disgracefully corrupt police force, despite the admiration and praises that have been directed his way, has been humble about it all.
