By Deborah Nnamdi
Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, was laid to rest on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, in a solemn ceremony marked by Islamic funeral rites and full military honours.
Buhari, who passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 82 following a brief illness in London, was interred in the courtyard of his private residence—fulfilling his personal request to be buried in his ancestral home.
His remains arrived in Katsina earlier in the day via a special flight from the United Kingdom, where they were received at Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Katsina State Governor Dikko Umar Radda, and other senior government officials.
A heavily guarded convoy then transported the body to Daura, drawing emotional crowds along the route as mourners gathered to pay their final respects.
At a makeshift prayer ground near his residence, Janazah (Islamic funeral) prayers were offered in Buhari’s honour. The service was attended by top government officials, traditional rulers, political leaders, and a large crowd of sympathizers who observed a moment of reflection and prayer.
After the prayers, the late president’s body—draped in the Nigerian flag—was conveyed to his residence for burial. Military pallbearers solemnly wheeled the casket to the graveside, where soldiers stood at attention for a final salute. A military band played mournful trumpet notes, followed by a ceremonial gun salute in tribute to the former Head of State.
The burial marked the end of a long chapter in Nigerian political history. Buhari first led the country as a military ruler from 1983 to 1985, and later returned as a democratically elected president, serving two terms from 2015 to 2023.
His death has drawn widespread reactions, with tributes pouring in from across the country and around the world. Flags were flown at half-mast nationwide, and a national mourning period has been declared.
Security remains tight in Daura, which has effectively ground to a halt as thousands of residents continue to gather in quiet mourning. The burial site has become a focal point for reflection on Buhari’s controversial yet impactful legacy in Nigerian governance.
