Final Journey: Former President Buhari Laid to Rest in Daura Amid National Mourning

Daura, Katsina State | iNewsAfrica – July 15, 2025

Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari was laid to rest Tuesday in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, bringing to a solemn close the life of one of the country’s most consequential—and controversial—leaders.

The late president, who passed away on Sunday, July 13, in London at the age of 82, was buried with full Islamic rites and military honors following his body’s arrival at Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina.

Thousands of mourners, dignitaries, and global leaders gathered for the final rites. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led the federal delegation, joined by Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, Buhari’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and many other dignitaries.

A solemn janaza prayer was observed at approximately 4:50 p.m. in Daura, followed by interment within the late president’s private compound around 5:30 p.m. Nigerian soldiers fired a 21-gun salute in honor of the former military ruler and civilian president, marking the end of a political era.

In a nationwide broadcast, President Tinubu described Buhari as “a leader forged by discipline, defined by integrity, and remembered by history.”

Buhari’s tenure as military ruler from 1983 to 1985 and two-term democratic presidency from 2015 to 2023 left a complex legacy—praised for his anti-corruption zeal yet criticized for economic stagnation and rising insecurity.

The federal government has declared a week-long mourning period, with flags flown at half-mast nationwide. Tributes continue to pour in from Nigerians at home and abroad, many reflecting on the paradoxes of a leader who inspired hope yet sparked debate.

As Daura returns to quiet, Nigeria looks ahead—reflecting on a man whose name, for better or worse, is etched into the annals of its modern history.

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