As Nigeria continues to mourn the loss of a man celebrated by many as a hero and an icon,someone who spent most of his life serving and fighting for the unity and progress of the country, a different conversation persists among the Igbo people. Despite his apologies and pleas for forgiveness on his deathbed, where he asked Nigerians to forgive him for any wrongs or disappointments he may have caused, many Igbos remain unconvinced.
For them, one uncomfortable truth continues to resurface: Muhammadu Buhari’s long and controversial history of violence against the South East spans over five decades. From his early days as a young soldier, through his reign as a military dictator, and later as a civilian president, Buhari’s name remains deeply associated with state-sanctioned brutality against the Igbo people.
A Bloody Beginning: July 1966 Coup
The story begins in July 1966. Buhari, then a young military officer, was an active participant in the Northern-led counter-coup that saw hundreds of Igbo officers slaughtered across Nigeria. The coup, which was a response to the earlier January coup perceived to favor the Igbos, marked the start of widespread anti-Igbo violence in the country.
Civil War Years: 1967-1970
When Nigeria descended into civil war following Biafra’s secession, Buhari fought on the side of the federal forces. As a battalion commander, he took part in the brutal military campaign against Biafra. Though the exact number of lives directly lost to his actions remains unknown, the war itself led to the deaths of over 3 million Igbos through both conflict and starvation. For many, Buhari remains a living symbol of those dark years.
Dictatorship and Death by Decree: 1984-1985
In 1984, Buhari became Nigeria’s military head of state. His regime was marked by harsh laws, retroactive decrees, and public executions, particularly of young men accused of crimes like armed robbery and drug trafficking. Among the most notable was Bath Owoh, the younger brother of actor Nkem Owoh, who was executed under Buhari’s regime. These executions disproportionately affected the South East and further entrenched animosity towards him.
Operation Python Dance: A Modern Siege on the South East
Fast forward to September 2017, Buhari, now a democratically elected president, returned from a medical leave abroad and unleashed Operation Python Dance in the South East. Officially a military exercise to curb criminality, it became a campaign of terror against unarmed IPOB members and peaceful agitators. The Nigerian government swiftly labeled IPOB a terrorist organization, despite the group’s lack of violent history at the time. Reports of killings, torture, and disappearances followed. Buhari’s chilling words “We will speak to them in the language they understand” remain etched in the memory of the victims’ families.
A Legacy Written in Blood?
For many Igbos, Buhari’s history reads like a catalogue of violence against their people. From coups and wars to public executions and military crackdowns, the pattern is undeniable in their eyes. While some Nigerians may argue for nuance, within the South East, the scars remain fresh, and the pain, unforgettable.
As history is being written, Igbos insist on telling their side loud and clear.
May His soul Rest in Peace!
Source: Dele Olagunju
