Former Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has been laid to rest in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, in a solemn ceremony marked by full national and military honours.
The funeral prayer, conducted according to Islamic rites, was led by former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami.
The burial, which followed Islamic rites, took place in the courtyard of his private residence shortly after Janazah (funeral) prayers were observed at a nearby makeshift prayer ground.
President Tinubu received condolences at the residence of the deceased from high-profile dignitaries who came to pay their last respects.
Earlier, Buhari’s body was received by President Tinubu; Vice President Shettima; President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau; Nigerien Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine; former Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou; and former Vice President Osinbajo.
As part of the farewell process, Buhari’s body, draped in the green-white-green colours of the Nigerian flag, was wheeled to the graveside on a gurney by military pallbearers.
Soldiers stood at attention and rendered a final salute, while a military band solemnly played their trumpets, which was followed by gun salutes in tribute.
The atmosphere was heavy with reflection and reverence as Buhari, who served as Nigeria’s military Head of State from 1983 to 1985 and later as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023, was laid to rest.
His remains had earlier arrived in Katsina from London and were received at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Governor Dikko Umar Radda of Katsina State, and other senior officials before being conveyed under tight security to Daura.
