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Former Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari was interred at his residence in Katsina state in the northwest on Tuesday, with several Heads of State present under tight security.
In the town of Daura, thousands of Nigerians assembled for public prayers before the private burial of the former leader at his family’s estate, which had been filled with mourners since his passing over the weekend.
Buhari, who passed away at the age of 82 in a London hospital on Sunday, initially led Nigeria as a military ruler in the 1980s and later described himself as a “converted democrat,” serving two terms as president from 2015 to 2023.
Local media reported the attendance of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, Aliko Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest billionaire, the president of Guinea-Bissau, the prime minister of Niger, and former Niger president Mahamadou Issoufou.
Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine attended despite the strained diplomatic relations between his country and Nigeria following a 2023 coup that ousted civilian leaders in Niger.
As Buhari’s remains were transported from England to Daura, which is located less than 20 kilometres from the Niger border, there was a significant security presence of police, military personnel, and undercover officers in the normally quiet town.
For many years, particularly in the northern region, Nigeria has experienced violence from insurgent jihadists and armed criminal groups. Although he was elected to bring about change, Buhari’s administration was unable to end the violence.
In 2015, he made history as the first opposition candidate to defeat an incumbent leader through the electoral process successfully.
