Former President Muhammadu Buhari was laid to rest on Tuesday in his hometown, Daura, Katsina State, following his death in London on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 82.
The funeral, conducted in accordance with Islamic rites, drew national attention as Nigerians from all walks of life joined in mourning a leader who held office both as a military ruler and a civilian president.
The remains of the late president arrived in Nigeria earlier in the day aboard a Nigerian Air Force aircraft, accompanied by Vice President Kashim Shettima and other senior officials. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu received the body at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina.
From the airport, the body—wrapped in Nigeria’s national flag—was flown by helicopter to Daura, where thousands of residents lined the streets to pay their last respects as the funeral procession passed.
A prayer service, led by the Chief Imam of Katsina, was held at 5:50 p.m., followed by the interment. High-ranking military officials, including service chiefs and army generals, carried the body to the gravesite, where a 21-gun salute was fired in his honour.
The Federal Government had declared Tuesday a national public holiday to allow citizens to mourn and observe the state burial. In Daura, shops remained largely closed and the streets were filled with solemn faces as people gathered to witness the final farewell.
Local resident Ismaila Ibrahim, a long-time neighbour of the late president, described him as “a man of quiet strength and discipline” who never changed despite holding the highest office in the land. “He lived among us without airs. His simplicity was remarkable,” Ibrahim said.
The ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries, including state governors, cabinet members, former leaders, and political figures. International messages of condolence have continued to arrive from foreign heads of state and international organisations, many describing Buhari as a symbol of discipline and integrity.
During his lifetime, Muhammadu Buhari served as Nigeria’s Head of State from 1983 to 1985, and later returned as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023.
The burial brought closure to a chapter in Nigeria’s history, as citizens reflected on the impact and controversies that shaped Buhari’s political journey. Family members, close allies, and government officials remain in Daura, where prayers and condolence visits are expected to continue in the coming days.
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