Former President Muhammadu Buhari Laid To Rest In Daura Amid Tributes.
Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari was laid to rest in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, on Tuesday, 15 July 2025, following a solemn state funeral attended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and a host of dignitaries from across Nigeria and beyond. The ceremony, marked by full military honours, drew large crowds who gathered to pay their final respects to the late leader, who passed away on Sunday, 13 July, in a London hospital at the age of 82.
The final journey of the former president began with the arrival of his remains at Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina, having been flown from London aboard a Nigerian Air Force aircraft. President Tinubu, alongside Vice President Shettima, Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, Niger Republic Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine, former Niger President Issoufou Mahamadou, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and numerous governors and business leaders, accompanied the cortege on the hour-long drive to Daura. The streets of the town were lined with mourners, reflecting the profound impact Buhari had on the nation during his tenure as both a military head of state from 1983 to 1985 and a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023.
Upon arrival in Daura, a brief lying-in-state ceremony took place at Buhari’s residence, allowing close family and dignitaries to pay their respects. This was followed by the Salatul Janazah, the Islamic funeral prayer, led by Sheikh Salisu Rabiu, the Imam of the Central Mosque in Daura. The interment, witnessed by President Tinubu and Buhari’s family, occurred at 5:50 p.m. within the precincts of his family compound, in accordance with Islamic rites. The ceremony concluded with a reveille and a 21-gun salute, underscoring the former president’s distinguished military and political legacy.
Buhari, born in Daura in 1942, was a towering figure in Nigerian politics for over four decades. Known for his austere lifestyle and commitment to combating corruption, he made history in 2015 as the first opposition candidate to defeat an incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan. His presidency was marked by efforts to address insecurity and economic challenges, though his administration faced criticism for persistent issues such as poverty and alleged human rights abuses. Tributes have poured in from across the political spectrum, with President Tinubu describing Buhari’s legacy as “enduring and significant to Nigeria’s democratic path” and declaring a seven-day national mourning period, during which flags are to be flown at half-mast.
The Katsina State government, led by Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, worked closely with federal authorities and the Buhari family to ensure a dignified farewell. The Northwest Governors Forum and the federal government declared Tuesday a public holiday in honour of the late leader. A weeklong programme of condolence events is set to continue, beginning with a visit by the Presidential Committee to the Buhari family later on Tuesday.
As Nigeria bids farewell to one of its most prominent statesmen, the mood in Daura remains sombre yet reflective of Buhari’s enduring influence. “He was a father figure whose legacy of integrity and service will remain unmatched,” Governor Radda said in a statement, echoing the sentiments of many who gathered to honour the late president.
