Under heavy skies mirroring the nation’s grief, former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari was laid to rest Tuesday in his hometown of Daura, surrounded by family, dignitaries, and thousands of mourners.
The 82-year-old statesman, who passed away July 13 after a prolonged illness at a London hospital, was buried with full military honors at 5:50 PM following Islamic rites.
The solemn ceremony saw Buhari’s casketโdraped in Nigeria’s green-white-green flagโlowered into the earth as gun salutes echoed across the agrarian community.
The service united the nation’s political elite, with President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, former VP Yemi Osinbajo, and business magnate Aliko Dangote among the mourners. Tinubu had earlier received Buhari’s remains at Katsina Airport upon repatriation from the UK.
Buhari’s legacy spans nearly a decade of leadershipโfirst as military head of state (1984โ1985) and later as democratically elected president (2015โ2023).
Nicknamed Mai Gaskiya (The Truth-Teller) by his northern supporters, he was revered for his anti-corruption stance but faced criticism over economic policies and security challenges.
The Federal Government declared a national day of mourning, with flags flown at half-mast. As Nigeria reflects on his complex legacy, Buhari’s burial marks the end of an era for a leader who shaped the nation’s modern historyโboth as a disciplinarian general and a two-term civilian president.
Final Journey
- 1942: Born December 17 in Daura
- 1984โ1985: Ruled as military head of state
- 2015โ2023: Served as elected president
- 2025: Died July 13 in London at 82
The agrarian town of Daura, now his final resting place, stands as a testament to the life of a man who rose from rural beginnings to lead Africa’s most populous nation twice.
