Under CBN pressure, Flutterwave deactivates #EndSARS fund-raiser account

The account has raised N25 million, $9,000, CA$4,450, £5,000 and €750 before being deactivated to starve the movement of funds.

Nimi Princewill and HILLARY ESSIEN • October 13, 2020

#EndSARS protest used to illustrate the story

Payment processing platform Flutterwave has deactivated the bank account of #EndSARS campaigners, administrators said on Tuesday

A group of feminists managing the account said Flutterwave broke a link holding donation instruction to support the struggle. Peoples Gazette confirmed the link was broken on Tuesday afternoon.

For demanding an end to police brutality we are now under attack! Our bank account has been deactivated and so has the Flutterwave donation link. Our members lives are also being threatened! #SARSMustEnd
— feministcoalition (@feminist_co) October 13, 2020

Sources said Flutterwave issued a warning to the account administrators on Monday evening about an update that would be carried out on the platform, but their action became suspicious when their bank account was also deactivated.

Sources also said the development followed pressure from CBN and other government institution that the protests finance stream should be cut off.

The account has raised N25 million, $9,000, CA$4,450, £5,000 before the deactivation.

The account has been receiving donations to treat victims of gunshot wounds and give legal aid to arrested protesters.

A spokesperson for Flutterwave did not immediately return a request seeking comments. CBN has yet to respond to a request for comments.