By Ihechi Enyinnaya
Former President Muhammadu Buhari was laid to rest on Tuesday in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, after funeral prayers and interment witnessed by a host of national and international dignitaries led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Crowds of mourners lined the streets of Daura and gathered at the late President’s residence to bid farewell to the retired General, who served as Nigeria’s head of state from 2015 to 2023.
His body arrived in Katsina from London at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport on Tuesday afternoon. From there, it was transported in a motorcade to Daura, accompanied by President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, Nigerien Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine, former Nigerien President Issoufou Mahamadou, former Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, several state governors, and prominent business leaders.
A lying-in-state was held at the Daura residence, followed by the Salatul Janazah (Islamic funeral prayer) led by Sheikh Salisu Rabiu, the Chief Imam of the Central Mosque in Daura. The final burial rites were observed at 5:50 p.m. in the presence of close family and top dignitaries.
The state funeral featured full military honours, including a reveille and a 21-gun salute. A weeklong schedule of events is expected to continue later today with a formal condolence visit by the Presidential Committee to the Buhari family.