President Bola Tinubu, alongside top African leaders and political dignitaries, on Tuesday, paid their final respects to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari during his burial rites in Daura, Katsina State.
The solemn burial ceremony, attended by thousands of mourners, reflected the profound respect Buhari commanded both nationally and internationally. His remains, wrapped in the Nigerian flag, were transported to Katsina aboard a Nigerian Air Force aircraft (FGT 001), arriving at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport at about 2:00 p.m.
President Tinubu, who was accompanied by Vice President Kashim Shettima and Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, received Buhari’s remains at the airport. Also present were Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and members of the Federal Executive Council.
Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and Niger Republic Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine joined the Nigerian president in receiving the former leader’s body. After a farewell parade and full military honours, including a 21-gun salute, the casket was transported to Daura by road under tight security.
The funeral prayer, known as Salat al-Janazah, was led by Imam Hassan Yusuf at the Daura Helipad around 4 p.m. Several high-profile dignitaries, including former Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and members of the National Assembly, attended the prayer.
Traditional rulers such as the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruk-Umar; the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir-Usman; and the Emirs of Zazzau, Dutse, and Kazaure also paid their last respects. Business moguls, including Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal, were among the notable attendees.
Following the prayer session, Buhari’s remains were taken to his private residence in Daura, where he was buried according to Islamic rites.
Crowds of sympathizers lined the streets of Daura, with many chanting prayers as the funeral procession passed. Initially restricted by security personnel, hundreds of residents were eventually allowed into the burial venue to bid farewell to the former president.
Salisu Lawal, a resident of Daura, described Buhari as “a great man who loved staying with his people and offering a helping hand.” Similarly, Aliyu Nasiru noted that Buhari’s death was “a great loss not only to Daura but to the entire country,” adding that his legacy of integrity and discipline would endure for generations.
Buhari, who passed away in a London hospital on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 83, served Nigeria as both a military ruler (1983–1985) and a democratically elected president (2015–2023). He was widely regarded for his anti-corruption stance, conservative economic policies, and commitment to public service.
Prayers were offered for Allah’s forgiveness and eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus for the late president, described by many as “a national icon and a symbol of integrity.”