Nigeria’s former president Muhammadu Buhari was buried on Tuesday in the family compound of his hometown in northern Katsina state, drawing thousands of mourners who climbed trees and lined streets to pay their respects.
The 82‑year‑old, who led Africa’s most populous nation from 2015 to 2023 and died in a London hospital on Sunday, received full military honours, including a 21‑gun salute and a ceremonial parade at Katsina airport. His coffin, draped in Nigeria’s green and white flag, was escorted to Daura—about 80 km away—where supporters chanted “Sai Baba” as his body was lowered into the ground.
President Bola Tinubu declared seven days of national mourning and made Tuesday a public holiday in Buhari’s honour. Tinubu and other officials, dressed in traditional Muslim attire, had welcomed the former leader’s remains at the airport earlier in the day.
Buhari first seized power in a 1983 military coup before returning to civilian rule in 2015, defeating incumbent Goodluck Jonathan. His presidency was dogged by an economic recession, foreign exchange shortages, a slump in oil output and rising insecurity, yet he retained a devoted following in northern Nigeria for his austere image and anti‑corruption stance. Critics note, however, that few high‑profile graft cases resulted in convictions during his tenure.