.As dignitaries from all walks of life witnessed Buhari’s burial in Daura
From Yahaya Umar, Katsina
It was a solemn moment in Daura, Katsina State, yesterday as the remains of former President Muhammadu Buhari was buried at his residence witnessed by President Bola Tinubu, state Governors, Ministers, local and foreign dignitaries, family members as well as thousands of mourners.
Buhari, died on Sunday, July 13, 2025 in a London Clinic after a protracted illness.
The funeral prayer held at the PMB Helicopter Ground, Daura witnessed an outpouring of emotion from citizens nationwide and beyond who came to bid farewell to one of Nigeria’s most influential leaders.
The body of the former President, was received by President Bola Tinubu at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Airport, Katsina in company of thousands of well wishers including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Subsequently, the body departed Katsina airport for Daura, the late President’s home town, in a motorcade accompanied by Tinubu and top government officials.
The burial prayer, conducted according to Islamic rites by Chief Imam of Daura, Sheikh Alhaji Salisu Rabiu at about 4:pm.
The burial was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, immediate past Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, President of Guinea Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló and the Prime Minister of Niger Republic, Ali Lamine Zeine.
Others are National Assembly leadership including President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, Senator Kawu Sumaila, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Senator Sani Bello, former Senator Abu Ibrahim, and former Senator Yariman Bakura.
Also at the residents of the late former president are Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, former Kaduna, Sokoto states governors Malam Nasir El-Rufai and Honourable Aminu Tambuwal,
former Governors of Kogi, Yahaya Bello; Borno, Alimodu Sherif; Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi; Katsina, Aminu Masari, Kebbi, Adamu Aliero.
Others include former minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, former governor of Kebbi, Adamu Aleru, former IG of Police Adamu, Amb. Babagana Kingibe as well as Service Chiefs, captains of industry, representative of the President of Chad Republic, Islamic clerics, and other high profile personalities from within amd outside the country.
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 , Retd ; and former Director General of DSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi.
Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda led the state government delegation, which included Deputy Governor Faruq Lawal Jobe, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Nasir Yahaya Daura, Secretary to the State Government Barr. Abdullahi Garba Faskari, and members of the State Executive Council. Federal government officials present included Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political and Other Matters, Ibrahim Kabir Masari, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Minister of Housing and Urban Development.
The delegation also includes Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle; Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari; former Minister of Communications, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, and former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami.
The ceremony was attended by Nigeria Governors’ Forum Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, alongside governors from multiple states including Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule; Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya; Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi; Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris; Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal; Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Others are Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo; Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma; and Cross River State Governor, Bassey Edet Otu.
The private sector leaders were Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Alhaji Sayyu Dantata, and Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal joined other dignitaries, while traditional rulers including Emir of Katsina, HRH Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, Emir of Daura, HRH Alhaji Faruq Umar Faruq; and Emir of Kano, HRH Aminu Ado Bayero were also present.
As part of the final honours, a joint Military team rendered a 21-gun salute before the former president was interred at Buhari’s private residence in Daura.
Before his final interment, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, who read Buhari’s citation, described his demise as a profound loss to the country and his immediate family.
Musa said the late Buhari was a fine soldier, who exhibited high sense of professionalism, discipline, honesty, integrity and selfless service to the country.
Family members of the the late President were allowed to see his body for few minutes to offer fervent prayers for the repose of his soul.
Buhari was born to a Muslim family on 17 December 1942, in Daura, now in Katsina State, Nigeria. He was the 23 child of Mallam Hardo Adamu, a Fulani chief. He was named after 19th century Islamic scholar, Muhammad al-Bukhari. His mother, Zulaihat, ancestry included Hausa and Kanuri.
He was a former Military Head of State from 1984 to 1985, returned to power through democratic elections in 2015 and was re-elected in 2019.
Prayers were offered to Almighty Allah for the forgiveness of his shortcomings and to grant him Aljannatul Firdaus, while strength and comfort were sought for the bereaved family, the people of Daura, Katsina State, and all Nigerians mourning this monumental loss.
