Former President Muhammadu Buhari was laid to rest on Tuesday evening in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, in a solemn and dignified ceremony attended by top military brass, government officials, and sympathisers from across Nigeria.
The burial followed Islamic rites and marked the final chapter in the life of a man who served Nigeria twice, first as a military ruler and later as a democratically elected president. His body was interred shortly after the Janazah (funeral) prayer, led by Sheikh Salisu Rabiu, Imam of the Daura Central Mosque, at exactly 5:50 pm.
A poignant military presence spotted the gravity of the moment as Army Generals and Service Chiefs carried Buhari’s casket to its final resting place. A 21-gun salute echoed through the quiet evening air, paying tribute to the former Commander-in-Chief.
Buhari’s remains had arrived in Katsina earlier in the day aboard a Nigerian Air Force aircraft, accompanied by Vice President Kashim Shettima and a delegation of senior federal officials. His death in London on Sunday, July 13, at the age of 82, had sparked a wave of national mourning and global condolences.
Earlier at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport, a subdued crowd gathered as his casket, draped in Nigeria’s green and white colours was transferred to a military chopper for the final flight to Daura. Along the roadways, residents lined the streets in silence, waving flags and holding photos of the late president.
The burial drew notable figures from Nigeria’s political, religious, and military circles. Former heads of state, current governors, and foreign dignitaries paid their respects to a man many described as austere, disciplined, and deeply patriotic.
A neighbour of the former president, Ismaila Ibrahim, shared a heartfelt tribute: “He was humble and disciplined till the end. For over 50 years, we lived peacefully together here in Daura.”
Tributes have poured in from around the world, praising Buhari’s commitment to national unity, anti-corruption efforts, and public service. President Bola Tinubu, who led the official mourning, called him “a man of quiet strength and unshakable belief in Nigeria’s destiny.”
As Nigeria reflects on the legacy of its late former leader, flags will continue to fly at half-mast and prayers will be offered in mosques and churches, remembering a figure who left a deep imprint on the nation’s political history.
