(Re)constructed identities in the social media discourse of Nigeria’s #EndSARS

#EndSARS, an instance of social activism in Nigeria, was a reaction to police brutality and misgovernance. This study examines how users of Nigerian Twitter (now known as X) draw on various discourses to challenge police brutality and (re)construct their ascribed identities while simultaneously evaluating the actions of the Nigeria Police Force and those of the Nigerian government. Gunther Kress and Theo van Leeuwen’s Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis (2001), as well as James Martin and Peter White’s Appraisal Framework (2005), served as the theoretical framework. The findings revealed the (re)construction of four identity categories, namely paroxysmic, solidaristic, non-violent resistance and violent resistance. Paroxysmic identity mirrored deep-seated anger among the protesters. Solidaristic identity concerned empathy towards victims of police brutality. Non-violent resistance identity revealed the resilience, courage and audacity to challenge the dominant group, while violent resistance identity involved violent attitudes in reaction to police brutality. The study concludes that social media is a veritable tool for holding dominant groups to account and is a force for change in 21st-century society.