Nigeria Mourns Ex-President Buhari, Criticised Over Anti-Christian Violence (Worthy News Focus)

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

LONDON/ABUJA (Worthy News) – Nigeria’s former president Muhammadu Buhari, who captured global headlines as the first opposition leader to unseat an incumbent at the ballot box, has died in London at the age of 82, after a long illness, officials confirmed Sunday.

Presidential spokespersons in Abuja said Buhari died around 4:30 p.m. local time in the British capital, where he had often sought medical care during his tenure.

President Bola Tinubu paid tribute to Buhari, who served as military and civilian leader of Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy.

Yet news of his death was met with mixed reactions as the deeply polarised country of nearly 240 million people is still reeling from the violent legacy of his presidency. Critics say his tenure was marred by a failure to protect vulnerable communities, particularly Nigeria’s embattled Christian population.

While Buhari was praised by supporters for his anti-corruption drive, his inability—or unwillingness—to stem the tide of sectarian violence that swept the country overshadowed his legacy, analysts said.

During his two-term presidency from 2015 to 2023, thousands of Christians were killed or abducted annually in attacks by Islamic extremist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), as well as so-called “bandits”—including armed Fulani herdsman, who targeted churches, Christian villages, and clergy.

Church leaders accused the Buhari administration of downplaying or ignoring what they described as “a campaign of terror” against Christians, especially in Nigeria’s north and Middle Belt regions.

COMMUNITIES RAISED

Communities were razed, pastors executed, and church services attacked in what advocacy groups called “the most violent nation for Christians,” facing an underreported persecution crisis.

Nigeria currently ranks 7th on the annual World Watch List of 50 nations where advocacy group Open Doors says it is most difficult to be a Christian.

Born on December 17, 1942, in Daura, in the northern state of Katsina, Buhari joined the Nigerian army at 19 and rose to the rank of major general.

Buhari first seized power in 1983 during a military coup, ruling with an iron fist before being ousted just 18 months later by another military leader, Ibrahim Babangida.

He returned to politics in the early 2000s, enduring three failed presidential bids before defeating incumbent Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian, in 2015 in what was widely considered Nigeria’s freest and fairest election at the time.

Buhari famously declared, “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody,” portraying himself as a national unifier.

However, expectations that he would crack down on violent insurgents and restore security were quickly dashed.

VIOLENCE SPREADING

Under his leadership, violence spread beyond the northeast to nearly all corners of the nation.

Kidnappings, massacres, and mass displacements, often involving Christians, became tragically routine, observers said.

His administration was also marred by economic stagnation, delays in key appointments, and frequent medical absences that left governance in limbo.

Critics dubbed him “Baba Go Slow” for his sluggish decision-making when low crude prices hit Nigeria’s oil-dependent economy.

Buhari’s second victory in 2019 came despite his first term being overshadowed by Nigeria’s first recession in a generation, militant attacks on oilfields, and his hospital stays.

While his supporters credit Buhari for instilling fiscal discipline and fighting entrenched graft, others say his anti-corruption drive was “selective” and his security policies “ineffective.”

Humanitarian organizations and religious freedom watchdogs say his perceived silence on the plight of persecuted Christians emboldened Islamic extremists and left millions feeling abandoned by their own government.

‘GENOCIDAL MASSACRES’

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) suggested that the Buhari administration failed to end what some called “genocidal massacres” of Christians.

Yet Buhari retained a devoted following among many in northern Nigeria, where his austere lifestyle and Muslim faith resonated with voters.

As Nigeria reflects on his life and legacy, commentators wonder: Could more have been done to stop the bloodshed?

Muhammadu Buhari is survived by his second wife, Aisha Halilu, and several children.

His burial arrangements were due to be announced in the coming days.

Critics say, however, that for countless Nigerians—especially those who lost loved ones to violence during his rule—his passing marks the end of a political era, and a somber reminder of promises unfulfilled and lives lost, often in silence.

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