The rustic town of Daura was steeped in grief on Tuesday as Nigeria’s former President, Muhammadu Buhari, was laid to rest in his ancestral home following his passing in London at the age of 82.
Rainclouds mirrored the nation’s mourning, shedding quiet tears over the northwestern town that raised the man known to many as “Mai Gaskiya” — the truth-teller.
At exactly 5:50 p.m., his body, draped in the Nigerian flag, was gently lowered into the earth, marking the end of an era for one of Nigeria’s longest-serving and most polarizing leaders.
Full military honors befitting a former Commander-in-Chief were rendered — including a gun salute and ceremonial processions — alongside Islamic burial rites conducted by religious leaders and the Chief Imam of Katsina State.
Born in Daura on December 17, 1942, Buhari first ruled Nigeria as a military head of state from 1984 to 1985, before returning to power as a civilian president from 2015 to 2023. His time in office was marked by a fierce campaign against corruption and a controversial economic and security record, leaving behind a legacy both admired and critiqued in equal measure.
At the burial site, the grief was palpable. His widow, Aisha Buhari, wept beside the grave, comforted by First Lady Remi Tinubu and other dignitaries. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who received Buhari’s remains at Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport earlier that day, led the nation in bidding farewell to his predecessor.
Also in attendance were Vice President Kashim Shettima, former Vice Presidents Yemi Osinbajo and Atiku Abubakar, Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, and a host of serving and former governors, ministers, royal fathers, clerics, and top military brass.
Buhari passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at The London Clinic, after a prolonged illness. The Nigerian government declared a National Day of Mourning, ordering flags to fly at half-mast across the country in tribute to the late leader.
A figure revered by many for his stoic discipline, Buhari’s legacy remains complex. Supporters remember him as a patriot who sought to instill order, fight graft, and revive Nigeria’s global standing.
Critics, however, point to economic stagnation, alleged human rights violations, and an administration often criticized for aloofness and opacity.
Still, as the sun set over Daura, and the dust settled over his freshly dug grave, Nigeria said goodbye to a man whose life mirrored the country’s own turbulent march through dictatorship, democracy, hope, and hardship.
