Some Nigerians who suffered injustice during the military rule of General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.) are calling for his prosecution.
In interviews with newsmen, survivors and families of victims shared their painful experiences during Babangida’s government, which lasted from August 27, 1985, to August 26, 1993. Many accused the former military leader of human rights violations, media suppression, and election annulment.
During his rule, the government cracked down on protests following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election won by Moshood Abiola.
Reports said security agents killed over 100 protesters. Investigative journalist Dele Giwa also died from a parcel bomb in 1986, with many believing the state was responsible.
The regime shut down media outlets like “Newswatch Magazine,” “The Guardian,” and “PUNCH Newspapers” for criticizing corruption and human rights abuses.
According to the PUNCH, Babangida also approved the execution of his childhood friend, General Mamman Vatsa, for alleged involvement in a coup.
Human rights activists like Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Femi Falana, and Debo Adeniran were jailed for protesting the June 12 election annulment.
Adeniran, President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, said Babangida should face justice, as the annulment caused deaths, exile, and suffering.
Pro-democracy activist Femi Aborisade also said Babangida deserves a life sentence, accusing him of harming Nigeria’s progress.
Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, recalled being detained for opposing Babangida’s government. He said the late Yinka Odumakin and other students were expelled from universities for their activism. Falana accused Babangida of deliberately killing Vatsa and blamed him for using 15 decrees to justify the election annulment.
Morayo Brown, daughter of the late human rights lawyer Alao-Aka-Bashorun, criticized President Bola Tinubu for attending Babangida’s book launch. She said her father tried to bring Babangida to justice but had to flee Nigeria to avoid persecution.
Omoyele Sowore, a former student leader, also demanded Babangida’s imprisonment for undermining Nigeria’s democracy. On Facebook, Sowore accused Babangida of ordering killings and suppressing democracy, calling him a “murderer” and “thief.”
Jonathan Vatsa, brother of the executed General Vatsa, said Babangida should apologize to Nigerians and return anything he took wrongfully. Meanwhile, Raees Abacha, grandson of late General Sani Abacha, called Babangida a “betrayer and coward” who falsely blamed Abacha for the June 12 annulment.
Babangida’s autobiography, *A Journey of Service*, released on February 20, 2025, has sparked debate. In the book, he denied that the 1966 military coup was ethnically motivated, saying Major Kaduna Nzeogwu, the coup leader, was culturally Hausa despite being Igbo by birth. Babangida also claimed the coup aimed to free Chief Obafemi Awolowo from prison and appoint him as Nigeria’s leader.
Journalist Oseni Rufai praised Babangida for challenging the “Igbo coup” narrative, which some believe led to the Biafra war. Social media users like Ugwu Oti supported Babangida’s account, saying it revealed hidden truths, while others, like Reno Omokri, argued that the coup started as a national movement but later became tribalistic.
This controversy has reignited calls for Babangida to face justice, with many Nigerians insisting that the former military ruler must answer for the human rights violations committed during his rule.
