Arrested at 17 during the 2020 protests, Wasiu Rasheed recounts years of hardship in Kirikiri prison, his eventual acquittal, and the painful search for his missing mother.

Wasiu Rasheed, a 23-year-old Nigerian, has regained his freedom after spending more than six years in detention following his arrest during the October 2020 #EndSARS protests. Arrested at just 17, Rasheed was recently discharged and acquitted by a Lagos court, finally bringing an end to a prolonged ordeal that began in one of the most turbulent moments in Nigeria’s recent history.

Speaking in an emotional interview with BBC Pidgin, Rasheed reflected on the day that changed his life forever. He recalled ignoring his mother’s warning to stay indoors as unrest spread across his neighborhood in Zamura, Lagos, on October 20, 2020. Moments later, he was picked up by local security operatives alongside others accused of participating in violent protests. Despite pleas from his mother and neighbors insisting on his innocence, he was taken away, bound, and detained.

Rasheed said he was initially held at a military facility before being transferred to Kirikiri Correctional Centre, where he would spend the next several years. Although he was reportedly arrested for “raiding the street,” court documents later accused him of unlawful possession of firearms—one of several charges commonly filed against those detained during the protests.

He described his time in Kirikiri as the “worst years” of his life, marked by overcrowding, poor nutrition, and lack of medical care. According to him, inmates without financial support endured harsher conditions, often sleeping in cramped spaces and surviving on low-quality food. To get by, Rasheed took on odd jobs within the prison, including washing clothes and running errands for other inmates.

Court appearances offered little relief, as his case was repeatedly delayed. In some years, he appeared only once without any progress. It wasn’t until March 2026 that his case was finally called and dismissed, leading to his acquittal. His release was made possible through the intervention of the Take It Back Movement and legal efforts that continued after the death of his initial counsel, Adeshina Ogunlana.

Now free, Rasheed faces a new struggle—finding his mother. He returned to their former home only to discover she had moved away after reportedly facing threats following his arrest. Neighbors told him the situation took a serious toll on her health, leaving him deeply worried about her whereabouts and wellbeing.

Despite the pain of lost years and uncertainty about his family, Rasheed remains determined to rebuild his life. Before his arrest, he was learning tailoring and working as a painter. He now hopes to return to those trades, drawing strength from skills he picked up in prison, including cooking and basic business practices.

“I have two hands and two legs,” he said. “I am ready to work.”