According to a report by Global Rights, an international human rights organization, the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari was characterized by threats and intimidation of journalists and protesters.
The report states that there was a decline in the civic space and basic freedoms during Buhari’s eight-year term. The administration had a suspicious relationship with the media, a frosty relationship with civil society organizations, and a desire to control access to information and curtail freedom of expression.
The report also highlights that 69 protesters were killed and 189 journalists were arrested, detained, or harassed during the Buhari-led administration. Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the former president for comment were unsuccessful. The report has sparked concerns about the state of freedom of expression and civic space in Nigeria.