Politics

IPOB, EndSARS: Omoyele Sowore lists four major ‘sins’ of Buhari as Nigerians flashback

Published by Tope Fakinlede on July 14th, 2025.

IPOB, EndSARS: Omoyele Sowore lists four major ‘sins’ of Buhari as Nigerians flashback

Omoyele Sowore

The passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday in London has sparked a wave of mixed reactions across Nigeria. While some Nigerians are paying tribute to the late leader, others are using the moment to reflect critically on his time in office.

Buhari’s remains are expected to be flown back to Nigeria for burial in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, later today (Monday).

Despite the formal mourning and condolences pouring in, a number of Nigerians have taken to social media to highlight what they see as major failures during his presidency. Many recall widespread issues such as rising insecurity, economic hardship, alleged human rights abuses, and corruption that marked his time in power.

Prominent activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, shared a post on Facebook listing what he called four major “sins” of the late president. According to Sowore:

1. Mass Killing of Shiites – He accused Buhari of overseeing the killing of hundreds of Shiite Muslims, including women and children.

2. EndSARS Crackdown – Sowore claimed the former president ordered military forces to fire live bullets at peaceful #EndSARS protesters in October 2020, even while they were waving the Nigerian flag.

3. Enforced Disappearances – He referenced the case of Abubakar Idris, known as “Dadiyata,” a social media critic who was abducted in 2019 and has not been seen since. Sowore held Buhari responsible for his disappearance.

4. Targeting IPOB Members – Sowore also alleged that Buhari authorized violent actions against young people in the South-East, labeling them members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Beyond these points, Sowore criticized Buhari for disobeying court orders, jailing critics without fair trial, and leaving Nigeria’s economy in a worse state. He expressed strong opposition to those praising the former president in death, saying:

> “We do not mourn tyrants. We remember their victims.”

Other figures, including Yoruba nation campaigner Sunday Igboho, have also used the occasion to speak out about the hardships they say Nigerians endured under Buhari’s leadership.