Lagos, Nigeria (AP) — Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who served as both a military head of state and a democratic president, has passed away at the age of 82, his press secretary announced on Sunday. Buhari died in London, where he had been undergoing medical treatment.
Initially assuming power through a military coup in 1983, Buhari governed with an authoritarian regime for less than 20 months before being ousted by fellow soldiers. In 2015, after multiple unsuccessful attempts, he made history as the first opposition candidate to win a presidential election in Nigeria.
Buhari’s presidency was marked by his promise to combat corruption and address the security crisis in Nigeria. However, during his tenure until 2023, the country faced challenges such as the rise of Boko Haram’s extremist violence in the northeast and a struggling economy.
Current President Bola Tinubu praised Buhari as a patriot, soldier, and statesman, sending the vice president to bring his body back home from London. Despite some mourning his passing, there were mixed reactions to Buhari’s legacy, with criticism over his failure to unite the country during his time in office.
Hailing from Nigeria’s north, Buhari had pledged to tackle extremist violence and corruption in the country. Yet, by the end of his presidency, public sentiment had shifted due to ongoing insecurity, widespread corruption, economic challenges, and his unorthodox monetary policies.
Buhari’s administration faced accusations of authoritarianism, particularly following incidents of violence against protesters and restrictions on social media. His frequent medical trips abroad raised concerns and led to calls for a change in leadership.
While there were some successes during his presidency, including the return of some Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram, many others abducted by the group remained missing. Buhari had claimed victory over the extremist group in 2016, but attacks and bombings persisted, highlighting ongoing security threats in Nigeria.
The military’s ongoing battle against Boko Haram in Nigeria has been marred by reports of abuses committed by troops against civilians. In early 2017, a tragic incident occurred when a military airstrike mistakenly targeted a displaced persons camp in the northeast, resulting in the deaths of over 100 individuals, including aid workers. The U.N. refugee chief described the killings as “truly catastrophic.”
As the Nigerian military regained control over more territory previously held by Boko Haram, a severe humanitarian crisis came to light. Aid organizations raised alarms about people dying from malnutrition, despite government officials downplaying the situation and accusing aid groups of exaggerating to solicit donations. The extremist threat and humanitarian emergency in the northeast, compounded by reduced aid from the Trump administration, persist to this day.
During his time as Nigeria’s military ruler, Buhari oversaw a regime that cracked down on drug dealers, recovered stolen state assets, and enforced strict traffic regulations by deploying soldiers with whips. In response to economic challenges, the government also expelled an estimated 700,000 illegal immigrants, amid complaints from Nigerians about foreign competition for jobs.
Additionally, Buhari’s administration implemented disciplinary measures like making tardy government employees perform squats in a “war against indiscipline” campaign. While these efforts gained support, the regime faced criticism from rights groups for detaining journalists critical of the government and passing laws enabling indefinite detention without trial.
As Buhari sought the presidency years later, he claimed to have undergone significant personal transformations and now advocated for democracy. Nevertheless, his past declarations, such as his 1980s proclamation of implementing Islamic law nationwide, continued to raise concerns and lingered as issues during his political campaigns.
