A global human rights group, Amnesty International, has alleged that over 4,200 Nigerians were unjustly killed between May 2015 and May 2023 of President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
This allegation is coming a few days after Mr Buhari marked his 81st birthday.
In a statement titled “Gross human rights violations under Buhari administration,” the group alleged that the killings and human rights violations were perpetrated by security forces and individuals under the former president.
The statement added that at least 19 journalists and media practitioners were attacked, arrested, tortured, harassed, and threatened, while three journalists had to go into hiding.
“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.
“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,” the statement reads.
