Amnesty International noted that from 2015 when Buhari took over power from former President Goodluck Jonathan, to May 2023 when he handed over power to President Bola Tinubu, at least 19 journalists and media practitioners were attacked, arrested, tortured, harassed and threatened while at least three journalists had to go into hiding.
As Nigerians felicitate with former President Muhammadu Buhari on his 81st birthday, human rights organisation, Amnesty International (AI) has recalled some heartrending killings and human rights violations perpetrated by the troops of the Nigerian Army, other Nigerian security agencies and individuals under the administration of the former President.
Amnesty International noted that from 2015 when Buhari took over power from former President Goodluck Jonathan, to May 2023 when he handed over power to President Bola Tinubu, at least 19 journalists and media practitioners were attacked, arrested, tortured, harassed and threatened while at least three journalists had to go into hiding.
Amnesty further recalled that between December 12 and December 14, 2015, barely seven months into Buhari’s administration, troops of the Nigerian Army killed over 350 Nigerians in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Amnesty identified some of the killings and human rights violations to include the “Mass slaughter of over 350 men, women and children by the Nigerian military in Zaria between 12 and 14 December, 2015.
“The Nigerian security forces carried out a chilling campaign of extrajudicial executions and violence resulting in the deaths of at least 150 peaceful pro-Biafra protesters between August 2015 and August 2016.”
Amnesty further stated, “The Buhari administration’s failure to bring perpetrators to justice fuelled a bloody escalation in the conflict between farmers and herders across the country, resulting in at least 3,641 deaths in three years. Over 57% of the 3,641 recorded deaths occurred in 2018.
“At least 19 journalists and media practitioners were attacked, arrested, tortured, harassed and threatened between January and September 2019. At least, three journalists had to go into hiding. Daily Trust and Premium Times were raided by security forces:
“Peaceful #EndSARS protests seeking an end to the atrocities of SARS — a callous unit of the Nigeria Police, was met with violent crackdown, while 56 people were killed nationwide. At least 12 protesters were killed at #LekkiTollGate and Alausa on 20 Oct. 2020.
“Thousands of women and girls who survived the brutal rule of the Boko Haram armed group were further abused by the Nigerian security forces and CJTF who claim to be rescuing them. The women and girls were raped, sometimes in exchange for food.”