As Nigeria’s political elite gathered at the Presidential Villa on Monday for the launch of “From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari,” Amnesty International has reignited debate over the former president’s human rights record, describing his eight-year rule as one of the most troubling periods for civil liberties in the country’s recent history.
In a series of posts on its X handle to mark the renewed public focus on Buhari’s legacy, the global rights watchdog catalogued what it termed “gross and systemic human rights violations” allegedly committed or enabled during Buhari’s administration between 2015 and 2023.
Among the most damning allegations is the December 2015 Zaria killings, where Amnesty says more than 350 men, women and children were massacred by the Nigerian military during clashes with members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria. According to Amnesty, its investigations revealed that victims were burned alive, buildings were destroyed, and bodies were dumped in mass graves, with no security official held accountable a decade later.
The organisation also accused Nigerian security forces of conducting extrajudicial killings of pro-Biafra protesters, particularly during Biafra Remembrance Day on May 30, 2016, when it claims hundreds of IPOB members and supporters were killed in Anambra State. Amnesty said homes and places of worship were raided, with many protesters allegedly slaughtered or burned alive.
Amnesty further linked Buhari’s tenure to the escalation of farmer-herder violence, citing at least 3,641 deaths between 2016 and 2018, attributing the surge to government failure to prosecute perpetrators and protect vulnerable communities across Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, Zamfara and other states.
The rights group also criticised the administration’s treatment of the media, alleging that journalists and bloggers were routinely arrested, harassed, and intimidated. It recalled the raids on Daily Trust and Premium Times, noting that at least 19 journalists were attacked or detained in 2019 alone.
On the #EndSARS protests of October 2020, Amnesty restated its position that at least 56 people were killed nationwide, including protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate and Alausa, while supporters of the movement were allegedly targeted through bank account freezes and travel restrictions.
The organisation also raised concerns over the alleged abuse of women and girls rescued from Boko Haram captivity, accusing some members of security forces and vigilante groups of sexual exploitation, including rape in exchange for food.
READ ALSO: Guardian of Stability: Inside Buhari’s Strategic Silence and Institutional Discipline
Human rights activists, including Omoyele Sowore, Olawale Bakare and Agba Jalingo, were cited as examples of critics allegedly unlawfully detained during the period, with Amnesty accusing the Department of State Services of repeatedly disobeying court orders.
While the book launch celebrated Buhari’s military and political career, Amnesty insisted that “any honest assessment of legacy must confront the victims left behind.” The organisation renewed its call for independent investigations, accountability, and justice for victims and their families.
The Buhari family and former government officials have previously rejected several of Amnesty’s allegations, insisting that the administration acted within the law to safeguard national security.
The renewed controversy underscores the enduring divide over how history will judge the former president — as a disciplined statesman, as portrayed in the new publication, or as a leader whose rule left deep scars on Nigeria’s human rights landscape.