HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND STRUGGLES UNDER IBRAHIM BADAMOSI BABAGINDA'S REGIME 1985-1993

This study critically examines the nature and extent of human rights violations during the military regime of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (1985–1993) in Nigeria. It explores the paradox of a regime that initially promised democratic reform and respect for fundamental rights, yet quickly devolved into repression marked by political manipulation, economic hardship, and systemic abuses. Through a historical-analytical approach, the study investigates key events such as the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), student massacres, and the infamous assassination of journalist Dele Giwa. The regime’s human rights abuses are situated within the broader context of Nigeria's military incursion into governance, and the study highlights the various resistance efforts from students, civil society groups, and individual activists. The research utilizes both primary and secondary sources, including oral testimonies, archival records, and relevant literature, to provide a robust account of state-sponsored repression. It argues that Babangida’s administration, despite its reformist rhetoric, institutionalized a culture of impunity that deepened Nigeria’s democratic fragility. Ultimately, this work contributes to the historical record by documenting how Nigerians resisted authoritarianism and defended civil liberties under extreme duress. Keywords: Human rights, Babangida, Military regime, Nigeria, June 12, SAP, Civil resistance.