Muhammadu Buhari’s presidency from 2015 to 2023 stands as one of the most controversial periods in modern Nigerian governance. While his rise to power was celebrated by many Nigerians keen on anti‑corruption reform and greater security, his eight‑year rule was also marked—and widely criticized—for pervasive human rights violations and failures of state accountability. In this comprehensive blog post, we examine key documented incidents, broader patterns of abuse, and the implications for Nigeria’s democratic and human rights landscape.
1. The Zaria Massacre: Military Violence and Lack of Accountability
One of the most infamous events early in Buhari’s presidency was the December 2015 massacre in Zaria, Kaduna State. According to Amnesty International, Nigerian military forces killed over 350 civilians—including men, women, and children—during a three‑day period from 12–14 December 2015. The victims included Shiite Muslim civilians associated with the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), whom the military accused of threatening national security. Amnesty documented that the army not only executed scores of unarmed civilians, but also destroyed homes, burned bodies, and dug mass graves, with no substantive investigations or prosecutions ever taking place.
This massacre remains a stark symbol of military impunity—a theme that would echo throughout Buhari’s administration.
2. Climactic Crackdown on Pro‑Biafra (IPOB) Activists
Between 2015 and 2016, the Nigerian security forces also launched a brutal campaign against members and supporters of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist movement in the Southeast. Amnesty International reported that security personnel carried out extrajudicial executions and violent raids, resulting in at least 150 deaths of peaceful pro‑Biafra protesters. These abuses often involved assaults on homes and public spaces where activists gathered.
International human rights groups have repeatedly called on the Nigerian government to open comprehensive, independent investigations into these killings. However, to date, no meaningful accountability or justice has been delivered for victims and their families.
3. Farmer‑Herders Conflict and Escalating Violence
Nigeria’s Middle Belt—a region stretching through states like Benue, Plateau, Taraba, and Kaduna—became a flashpoint for violent clashes between predominantly Christian farming communities and largely Fulani nomadic herders. While this conflict predates Buhari’s term, it escalated dramatically during his presidency.
According to Amnesty, an estimated 3,641 deaths occurred between 2016 and 2018 as a result of these clashes. These figures highlight not only the scale of violence, but also the failure of state authorities to protect affected communities or prosecute attackers, thereby fueling cycles of reprisal and insecurity.
Human Rights Watch has also noted that, in responding to such clashes, Nigerian security forces were implicated in gross human rights abuses, including indiscriminate attacks that caused civilian harm.
The aftermath of these conflicts has had enduring impacts on agriculture, livelihoods, and food security—further deepening poverty and instability in rural Nigeria.
4. Brutal Repression of #EndSARS Protesters
Perhaps the most globally visible human rights crisis under Buhari was the #EndSARS movement in 2020. Sparked by demands to dismantle the brutal Special Anti‑Robbery Squad (SARS), peaceful youth protests spread across Nigeria.
Instead of dialogue, Nigerian police and military forces responded with excessive force. Amnesty International documented that at least 56 people were killed during protests nationwide, including a minimum of 12 killed at Lekki Toll Gate and Alausa in Lagos on 20 October 2020. Protesters were shot with live ammunition; many were severely injured, and scores were detained and tortured.
One year after the protests, Amnesty reported that no security officer had been prosecuted for these killings, and judicial panels of inquiry made little progress. Protesters injured or detained continue to await justice.
This violent response not only underscored longstanding police brutality, but also the shrinking civic space for peaceful assembly and free expression in Nigeria.
5. Suppression of Journalists and Media Freedom
Under Buhari, Nigeria saw sharp increases in attacks on the press. Rights groups documented that at least 19 journalists and media practitioners were attacked, arrested, tortured, harassed, or threatened between January and September 2019. Some journalists were forced into hiding, and major news outlets like Daily Trust and Premium Times were reportedly raided by security operatives.
These trends reflect broader pressures on media freedom, where critical reporting was often met with intimidation—including arbitrary detentions and denial of basic legal protections.
6. The Plight of Boko Haram Survivors
During Buhari’s presidency, Nigeria continued to battle the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast. While the government touted military victories and rescues of kidnapped schoolgirls, rights groups reported further abuses against women and girls rescued from militant captivity.
Amnesty International and other observers noted that some of these survivors faced sexual violence and exploitation by Nigerian security forces and allied militias (CJTF) who claimed to be assisting them. In some tragic cases, sexual exploitation occurred in exchange for food or shelter—an egregious violation of both human rights and humanitarian norms.
Beyond these abuses, broad insecurity and displacement persisted—leading to thousands of deaths and widespread suffering.
7. Arbitrary Detentions and Targeting of Activists
Human rights defenders and critics of the government also faced repression. Prominent figures like Omoyele Sowore, Olawale Bakare, and Agba Jalingo were detained in 2019 after speaking against the government’s policies. The Department of State Services (DSS) was accused of defying court orders and withholding detainees without charge, reflecting deep concerns about arbitrary detention and due process violations.
Such actions convey a chilling message to civil society activists, eroding space for dissent and weakening fundamental democratic safeguards.
8. Broader Impacts: Failures of Protection and Chronic Impunity
Across multiple fronts—whether in responses to protests, communal conflicts, insurgency, or activist pressure—the Buhari administration’s record demonstrates a recurring pattern: use of excessive force by security forces and a lack of accountability for abuses.
Amnesty International’s 2022/23 global report emphasized widespread unlawful killings, arbitrary detentions, and severe restrictions on freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly—without adequate judicial redress.
This systemic failure has perpetuated impunity, undermining public trust in institutions and Nigeria’s commitments under domestic and international human rights law.
Conclusion: Assessing Buhari’s Human Rights Legacy
Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure was defined by complex security challenges and deep societal divisions—but also by repeated and well‑documented human rights violations by Nigerian security forces and state authorities. From military massacres and suppression of peaceful protests to threats against journalists and activists, the body of evidence from organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch paints a troubling picture of governance marked by force over accountability.
For Nigeria to move forward, meaningful justice, reforms in security sector governance, and protection of civic freedoms remain indispensable. Only through accountability and systemic change can the wounds of the past decade begin to heal—and Nigeria fulfill its democratic promise.
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