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Nigeria has bid farewell to one of its most prominent leaders, former President Muhammadu Buhari, who was laid to rest in his native town of Daura, located in Katsina State, just two days after his passing at the age of 82.
Buhari reportedly died at a private medical facility in London following a short illness. His remains were flown back to Nigeria on Tuesday, where he was received at the Katsina State airport by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other top government officials.
From the airport, the late president’s body was transported to Daura. There, an Islamic funeral service (Janazah) was conducted at the central mosque, drawing hundreds of mourners including local residents, religious leaders, and international dignitaries. Notably, Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and other respected figures were present to pay their respects.
Following the prayers, Buhari was buried in a private ceremony within the grounds of his family residence. As part of the military honors, ceremonial gunshots were fired, and the national flag draped over the coffin was carefully folded and presented to his family.
In tribute to Buhari’s legacy, President Tinubu announced a seven-day national mourning period, commencing with the lowering of the Nigerian flag to half-mast across the nation. The government also declared Tuesday a public holiday, allowing citizens to honor the memory of a leader who shaped Nigeria both as a military head of state and an elected president.
Buhari made history in 2015 by becoming the first opposition candidate to unseat a sitting president, defeating Goodluck Jonathan in a landmark democratic transition. Jonathan hailed Buhari as a patriotic statesman, while former military ruler Gen. Ibrahim Babangida who once overthrew Buhari in 1985 described him as a “moral compass” and a figure of humility in leadership.
Muhammadu Buhari’s death marks the end of a significant chapter in Nigeria’s political history, leaving behind a complex but impactful legacy spanning decades of service to the nation.