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Mammoth Crowd Gathers as Former Nigeria President Buhari, is Buried in His Home Town, Daura
Monitored by Omowumi Omotosho, Bamidele Aremu and Damola Kadri
A massive crowd poured into Daura, Katsina State, on Tuesday, as the former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari was buried in home town, Daura, Katsina State.
Buhari, who died in London on Sunday, was flown into Nigeria aboard a Nigerian Air Force jet. The aircraft carrying his remains landed at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina at exactly 1:59 p.m. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led a high-level federal delegation to receive the body, accompanied by Vice President Kashim Shettima and Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila.
President Tinubu paying last respect to the corpse of Buhari
From top to bottom: (1) Buhari’s final resting place made ready. (2) Buhari being interred. (3) the grave after burial .
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was also present at the airport to receive the grieving widow, Aisha Buhari. The brief reunion between both women was visibly emotional, symbolising the shared loss of not just a family, but a nation.
From the airport, after a military parade, a heavily guarded convey proceeded to Daura, the quiet hometown that has now become a historical final resting place.
Security was exceptionally tight throughout the route and at the burial venue. Armed personnel from the Nigerian Army, Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and Civil Defence Corps manned key points, monitored the Roadblocks and security cordons were set up across all entry points into Daura, while drones were not allowed to fly in the sky and only those with clearance were allowed close to the burial grounds.
The Janaza was held at a makeshift helipad prayer ground, led by the Chief Imam of Daura, Imam Salisu. The crowd, made up of religious followers, political allies, community elders, and ordinary citizens, maintained respectful silence as prayers were offered for the late leader.
After the prayer, Buhari’s body was taken to his private residence for burial. A 21-gun salute cracked through the quiet Daura sky, signalling a final honour for the former Nigerian President.
At the graveside, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, read the Buhari’s citation the graveside before the body was committed to the earth at approximately 5:50 p.m.
Those present at the ceremony included the Nigeria president Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, PDP Presidential candidate in 2023 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, business mogul Aliko Dangote, Katsina State Governor Mallam Dikko Radda, the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruk, and the Prime Minister of Niger Republic, Ali Lamine Zeine, who led delegation from Niger Republic.
A long list of other dignitaries ; sitting governors, past governors, ministers, lawmakers, diplomats, retired military generals, traditional rulers and others were also in attendance.
