A somber atmosphere enveloped Daura on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, as the body of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari was laid to rest in the grounds of his private residence.
The 82-year-old, who passed away on July 13 in a London clinic after a prolonged illness, was interred following Islamic rites, with his body lowered into a grave dug near his favorite sitting spot, a detail reflecting his final wishes shared with family.
The burial, attended by hundreds including President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, followed a military parade and funeral prayers at the Daura Central Mosque. Grieving family members, including his wife Aisha, watched as the Nigerian flag draped over the coffin was removed and folded, handed to the family in a traditional gesture.
The repatriation from London, overseen by Shettima and Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, saw the body arrive at Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Airport in Katsina earlier that day, from where it was transported by road amid mourners chanting Quranic verses. The event, initially planned for Monday, was delayed for logistical reasons, with the government declaring a public holiday to honor Buhari’s dual legacy as a military ruler (1983-1985) and elected president (2015-2023).
The scene was marked by traditional Hausa wailing, though some locals expressed mixed sentiments, citing unfulfilled promises from his tenure, a tension noted in regional discussions but not officially addressed during the rites.