New reports have emerged on how human rights violations have continued to soar under President Muhammadu Buhari’s government regardless of the concerns that have been raised by stakeholders.
Recall that under Buhari’s administration, security operatives have been known for harassing, assaulting, and intimidating journalists, human rights activists, protesters, and critics of the government; while also being hostile to Nigerian judges and showing indifference to court judgments and orders undermining their standing and authority, and the notion of access to justice in the society.
According to AI, Buhari normalized disobedience to court orders, and state-sanctioned brutality against peaceful protesters while noting that the administration also keeps on violating human rights with impunity.
In its 2020 report, Amnesty International highlighted that, under the Buhari administration, Nigerian security forces committed despicable human rights violations, including torture and the use of excessive force, and other ill-treatment which resulted, on certain occasions, in unlawful killings.
AI also reported that Nigerian authorities repressed human rights, which included barring freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and freedom of movement.
The ‘Lekki toll gate massacre’ of October 20, 2020, was a notable instance whereby Nigerian soldiers were unleashed on defenseless citizens with catastrophic effects.
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