Former President Buhari buried in Daura

It was a solemn moment as the lifeless body of the 82-year-old former President Muhammadu Buhari was brought out of a casket draped in sparkling green-white-green Nigerian colours, and lowered into the earth at exactly 5:50pm in the presence of grieving children, family members, and associates.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, today led a gathering of African leaders, high-ranking government officials, traditional rulers, political leaders, and citizens to pay final respect to Buhari.

The burial prayer, conducted according to Islamic rites by Chief Imam of Daura Sheikh Salisu Rabiu, attracted international dignitaries including President Umaru Sissoci Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, Prime Minister of Niger Republic, Ali Lamine Zeine, and former President of Niger Issoufou Mahamadou.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar were among the most prominent Nigerian leaders present, alongside National Assembly leadership including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Senate President Senator Barau I Jibrin.

Security chiefs in attendance included Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, former Chief of Defence Staff Lt Gen Tukur Y. Buratai (rtd), and former Director General of DSS Yusuf Magaji Bichi.

Beyond being the final resting place of the general-turned-statesman, Daura, a small agrarian town in North-West Nigeria, was also the birthplace of the man known by millions of his cult-like northern followers as the “Mai Gaskiya” in Hausa language, meaning the truth-teller.

Buhari, served as Nigeria’s civilian president from 2015 to 2023 after previously leading the country as a military head of state between 1983 and 1985.

Though details of the illness were not made public, the former president was believed to be recuperating until his condition took a turn.