Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari to be buried in Katsina

Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari speaks at the commissioning ceremony of the Chinese-assisted airport terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria, on March 22, 2022. (Photo: Xinhua)

By Lucy Mumbi
Monday, July 14, 2025

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is expected to attend the funeral prayer in Daura, has declared seven days of national mourning in honour of his predecessor.

Nigeria’s former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died on Sunday in London, will be flown back to the country for burial in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, later today.

Muhammadu passed away aged 82 after a brief illness.

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Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda, who is in London alongside Muhammadu’s family, confirmed that the burial will be held in Daura town, approximately 80 kilometres from Katsina city.

“I just left his family at the hospital where he died, and the decision is that his remains will be taken to Daura for burial. The plan is to leave in the morning,” Radda told DW Hausa as quoted by the BBC.

Nigeria’s Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who is also present in London, will accompany Muhammadu’s remains back home. In a social media post after arriving in the British capital, Shettima confirmed Daura as the late leader’s final resting place.

He said Muhammadu died after a brief illness, although he had struggled with ill health for many years. No further details regarding the illness were disclosed.

Despite Muhammadu’s status as a former president, there will be no state funeral. Islamic cleric Abdullahi Garangamawa told the BBC that Muhammadu will be buried according to Islamic rites in a simple ceremony.

“The only thing that should stop Buhari’s corpse from being buried today [Monday] is if his body arrives [in] Daura in the night because Islam frowns at night burials. In that case, Tuesday morning will be fine,” the cleric said.

Tributes have continued to pour in for the former army general, who remains one of only two people in Nigeria’s post-independence history to lead the country both as a military ruler and a civilian president.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who was defeated by Muhammadu in the 2015 presidential election, described him as a leader who “was selfless in his commitment to his duty and served the country with character and a deep sense of patriotism.”

Former military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida, who ousted Muhammadu in a 1985 coup, praised him as “a man who, even in retirement, remained a moral compass to many, and an example of modesty in public life.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is expected to attend the funeral prayer in Daura, has declared seven days of national mourning in honour of his predecessor.

In an official condolence statement issued on Sunday evening, Bola said Nigeria would pay its final respects to the late leader “with dignity and honour.” He directed all national flags across the country to be flown at half-mast from Sunday as part of the mourning period.

Kenya’s President William Ruto also joined global leaders in condoling the people and government of Nigeria following Muhammadu’s death. He highlighted Muhammadu’s fight against corruption across Africa, his efforts in advancing regional security initiatives and his support for economic integration on the continent.

“President Buhari’s demise is a loss not only to the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but also to the entire African Continent, which has been immeasurably enriched by his wisdom and steadfast commitment to the liberation and prosperity of the Nigerian people,” Ruto said in a tribute posted on X on Monday.