Late former President Muhammadu Buhari’s corpse has arrived in Nigeria from London ahead of his burial in Daura, Katsina State, which is slated for later today.
The late president’s body landed in Katsina from the UK, accompanied by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
President Bola Tinubu, Katsina State Governor Dikko Umar Radda, key government officials, and members of the late ex-president’s family were present at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Airport to receive the body, which had left the UK earlier in the day.
Former President Buhari passed away in London on Sunday, July 13, 2025, after a brief illness and will be buried in Katsina on Tuesday.
According to a statement on X by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy) “Tinubu arrived at the airport from Abuja at 1:42 p.m. and inspected a guard of honour before the Nigerian Air Force plane conveying the remains of his predecessor landed at exactly 1:51 p.m.”
Vice President Kashim Shettima, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, Buhari’s wife Aisha, and other family members accompanied Buhari’s remains to Nigeria.
Tinubu, along with Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Umaru Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, Prime Minister of Niger, Ali Lamine Zeine, former President of Niger, Issoufou Mahamadou, and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, received the casket of the late president at the foot of the aircraft.
Onanuga als mentioned tahat “A joint team of military pallbearers comprising nine senior officers laid the casket, draped with the Nigerian flag, on a trolley.
“The team included Major-General Mohammed Usman, Major-General Oluwafemi Williams, Major-General Shuaibu Nudu, Rear Admiral Suleiman Dahun, Rear Admiral Jonathan Ajodo, Rear Admiral Samuel Ngatuwa, Air Vice Marshal Adeniyi Herbert Amesinlola, Air Vice Marshal Idi Sanni, and Air Vice Marshal Obinna Obiabaka. Major General Mike Alechenu coordinated the team.
“The pallbearers wheeled the former leader’s casket in a slow march, in sync with the hymn ‘God Be With You Till We Meet Again’, passing through a full military guard of honour comprising six officers and 96 soldiers drawn from the Nigerian Armed Forces.
“Tinubu and others walked behind the casket trolley in a solemn procession. The pallbearers escorted the casket into a waiting military hearse for the one-hour journey to Daura, where funeral prayers and the burial ceremony would take place.
“The state funeral featured full military honours, including a 21-gun salute.
