From Bola Ige To #EndSARS: Has Nigeria Outrun Its Dark Past?
A Question That Won’t Go Away
MORE than two decades after Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999, a persistent question lingers in public discourse: how different is today’s democratic order from the military era it replaced?
The assassination of Sani Abacha’s critics once defined the brutality of dictatorship. Yet in the Fourth Republic, the killing of high-profile political figures has remained an unsettling feature of the landscape. Foremost among them was Bola Ige, the serving Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, shot dead in his Ibadan home on 23 December 2001. His murder, still unresolved, became a symbol of democratic fragility.
Since then, other cases have followed: Funsho Williams, a Lagos governorship aspirant killed in 2006; Aminosoari Kala Dikibo, murdered in 2004; and Dipo Dina, assassinated in 2010. Activists and lawyers, including Barnabas Igwe, also fell victim in the early 2000s.
There is no official consolidated figure of politically motivated assassinations since 1999. Human rights organisations and academic studies describe a “wave” of killings, particularly around election cycles in 2003 and 2007. Estimates vary widely — from a handful of high-profile cases to several dozen when local politicians and activists are included. Many investigations stalled, reinforcing perceptions of impunity.
Democracy and the Culture of Fear
Beyond assassinations, critics point to episodes of mass violence and state crackdowns that have tested Nigeria’s democratic credentials. The destruction of Odi in 1999, clashes in Zaria, violence in Southern Kaduna, and the nationwide protests of #EndSARS in 2020 — which drew global attention over allegations of excessive force — remain part of the national memory.
The unresolved disappearance of activist Abubakar Idris, widely known as Dadiyata, has further deepened anxieties about civic space and dissent.
Analysts argue that while Nigeria’s democratic institutions — elections, legislatures, courts — function formally, insecurity and weak accountability mechanisms have eroded public trust. Political competition, especially at state and local levels, has at times been marked by intense rivalry and allegations of violence.
Measuring Change Since 1999
Supporters of the current democratic order contend that, unlike under military rule, Nigeria now allows open media debate, judicial challenges and peaceful transfers of power. Critics counter that formal structures alone do not define democracy; safety, rule of law and equal protection under the law are equally essential.
The legacy of Sani Abacha remains a benchmark for authoritarian excess. Yet for many Nigerians, the question is less about equivalence and more about expectations unmet. If democracy promised security, justice and accountability, the persistence of unresolved killings continues to cast a long shadow.
As Nigeria navigates its Fourth Republic, calls for thorough investigations and institutional reform grow louder. The strength of any democracy, observers note, lies not only in ballots cast, but in lives protected.
