Blood, Silence And Impunity: The Dark Human Rights Legacy Of Buhari’s Nigeria
By Paul Ebi
Nigeria’s human rights landscape between 2015 and 2023, under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, remains one of the most contested and troubling chapters in the country’s democratic history. Reports by Amnesty International and other rights groups document a pattern of alleged abuses marked by mass killings, suppression of dissent, and widespread impunity that critics say defined the era.
One of the earliest and most shocking incidents occurred in Zaria, Kaduna State, between 12 and 14 December 2015, when Nigerian military forces were accused of killing more than 350 men, women, and children. Amnesty International reported that victims were burned alive, buildings razed, and bodies dumped in mass graves. Despite the scale of the killings and global outrage, no military personnel were held accountable, reinforcing concerns about institutional disregard for human life and justice.
The clampdown on pro-Biafra activists further intensified fears of state-sponsored violence. Between August 2015 and August 2016, at least 150 peaceful protesters were reportedly killed by security forces. The deadliest incident occurred on 30 May 2016 during Biafra Remembrance Day in Onitsha, Anambra State, where Amnesty International estimates that many members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) were killed after security forces raided homes and a church. Some victims were allegedly burned alive, deepening allegations of extrajudicial executions.
Beyond protests, the Buhari administration was also accused of failing to address escalating communal violence. Clashes between farmers and herders resulted in at least 3,641 deaths within three years, with over 57 percent recorded in 2018 alone. According to documented figures, at least 310 attacks occurred between January 2016 and October 2018, particularly in Adamawa, Benue, Kaduna, Taraba, Plateau, and Zamfara states. Human rights groups argue that the government’s inability to prosecute perpetrators fuelled the bloodshed.
Press freedom also came under strain. Journalists and media practitioners faced arrests, intimidation, and harassment, with at least 19 reportedly attacked between January and September 2019. Some journalists were forced into hiding, while media houses such as Daily Trust and Premium Times were raided by security operatives, raising alarm over shrinking civic space.
The October 2020 #EndSARS protests marked another turning point. What began as peaceful demonstrations against police brutality ended in violent crackdowns across the country. Amnesty International reported that at least 56 people were killed nationwide, including at least 12 protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate and Alausa in Lagos on 20 October 2020. Protest supporters later faced intimidation, travel restrictions, and the freezing of bank accounts.
In Nigeria’s northeast, thousands of women and girls who survived Boko Haram captivity were reportedly subjected to further abuse by security forces and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF). Amnesty International documented cases of rape and sexual exploitation, sometimes in exchange for food, compounding the trauma of survivors.
Human rights activists were not spared. Prominent figures such as Omoyele Sowore, Olawale Bakare, and Agba Jalingo were arrested and detained in 2019 for criticizing the government. In some cases, security agencies allegedly defied court orders granting bail, a move widely condemned as an assault on the rule of law.
As Nigeria moves further away from the Buhari years, human rights advocates insist that accountability remains elusive. For many victims and observers, the legacy of that period is defined not only by the abuses themselves, but by the persistent failure to deliver justice.
