Former president Buhari buried in Daura

• Tinubu, others bid former military leader farewell

Former President Muhammadu Buhari was on July 15 buried in his hometown, Daura, Katsina State.  He died on July 13 at a London hospital.

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday received the former president’s remains at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina, Katsina State.

President Tinubu arrived at the airport from Abuja at 1:42pm, and inspected a guard of honour before the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) plane conveying his predecessor’s remains landed at exactly 1:51pm.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the deceased’s wife, Aisha, and other relatives accompanied the former president’s remains to Nigeria.

President Tinubu, Vice President Shettima, President Umaru Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, Prime Minister of Niger, Ali Lamine Zeine, former President of Niger, Issoufou Mahamadou, and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, received the body at the foot of the aircraft.

A joint team of military pallbearers, comprising nine senior officers, laid the casket, draped with the Nigerian flag, on a trolley. The team included Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Usman, Maj.-Gen. Oluwafemi Williams, Maj.-Gen. Shuaibu Nuhu, Rear Admiral Suleiman Dahun, Rear Admiral Jonathan Ajodo, Rear Admiral Samuel Ngatuwa, Air Vice Marshal Adeniyi Herbert Amesinlola, Air Vice Marshal Idi Sanni, and Air Vice Marshal Obinna Obiabaka. Maj.-Gen. Mike Alechenu coordinated the team.

The pallbearers wheeled the former leader’s casket in a slow march, in sync with the hymn ‘God Be With You Till We Meet Again’, passing through a full military guard of honour comprising six officers and 96 soldiers drawn from the Nigerian Armed Forces (NAF). President Tinubu and others walked behind the casket trolley in a solemn procession.

The pallbearers escorted the casket into a waiting military hearse for the one-hour journey to Daura, where funeral prayers and the burial ceremony held.

Large crowds lined the streets and gathered at the former President’s residence to pay their last respects.

A brief lying-in-state was held at the deceased’s residence, followed by the funeral prayer (Salatul Janazah) led by Sheikh Salisu Rabiu, Imam of the Central Mosque in Daura. The final interment held at 5.50pm, and was witnessed by the late President’s close family members.

The state funeral featured full military honours, including a reveille and a 21-gun salute. A weeklong programme of events will continue afterwards with a condolence visit to the bereaved family by the Presidential Committee.