President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and a host of dignitaries, including former African leaders, state governors, and international envoys, gathered in Daura on Tuesday for the final burial rites of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died on Sunday at the age of 82 in a London hospital.
The late president was laid to rest in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, in accordance with Islamic customs, shortly after the arrival of his body aboard a Nigerian Air Force aircraft. The burial took place at his private residence following funeral prayers held at the Daura Central Mosque.
President Tinubu, accompanied by First Lady Senator Remi Tinubu, led the federal government delegation. He was joined by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, several former heads of state, and governors from across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Also present were dignitaries from Niger, Chad, Ghana, and Sudan, as well as representatives of the African Union (AU), ECOWAS, and the United Nations.
In a somber tribute, President Tinubu described Buhari as “a towering patriot and disciplined leader who served Nigeria with unwavering dedication.”
“We are here today not just to bury a former president, but to honor a statesman who dedicated his life to this country’s unity and integrity,” Tinubu said.
Security was tight throughout Daura, with thousands of mourners lining the streets to pay their last respects to a man affectionately known as “Baba Mai Gaskiya” — meaning “Man of Truth” in Hausa.
Buhari, who ruled Nigeria first as a military leader from 1983 to 1985 and then as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023, left behind a legacy marked by anti-corruption efforts, security reforms, and a commitment to national cohesion.
His burial marks the end of an era in Nigeria’s post-independence political history, as tributes continue to pour in from global leaders and institutions.
