BREAKING: Ex-President Buhari’s Body Arrives In Katsina For State Burial

The remains of former President Muhammadu Buhari have arrived in Katsina, his home state, for burial.

This was shortly after President Bola Tinubu arrived in Katsina State ahead of the burial ceremony.

This comes as a high-powered delegation from the neighbouring Republic of Niger also landed in Katsina on Tuesday morning to participate in the final burial rites of the late former Nigerian leader, who died on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at a London hospital after a prolonged illness.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has also announced his arrival for the burial rites.

“I just arrived in Daura for the interment of former President Muhammadu Buhari,” he wrote in a message shared on X.

SaharaReporters earlier reported that preparations for Buhari’s interment had reached an advanced stage, with his grave already dug in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State.

The remains of the late president, via a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft, were accompanied by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, and other senior government officials.

SaharaReporters gathered that virtually all major hotels in Katsina metropolis have been fully booked since Monday as top government officials, diplomats, military generals, and political allies continue to flood the state for the high-profile state burial.

There has also been a heavy deployment of security operatives across Katsina State, particularly in Daura. Armoured personnel carriers, battle-ready soldiers, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), and anti-riot police squads have been sighted at strategic locations, including roads leading to Buhari’s Daura residence and hotels accommodating top dignitaries.

Earlier on, First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, and the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, arrived in Katsina.

SaharaReporters had earlier reported that the initial burial arrangement, which had scheduled Buhari’s return to Nigeria for Monday, was altered after delays from London.

Bashir Ahmad confirmed this development on Monday, stating that the former President’s remains would now arrive at noon on Tuesday, with funeral prayers and final internment slated for 2:00 PM the same day in Daura.

The Nigerian Government had also declared Tuesday, July 15, 2025, a public holiday to honour the late President and to allow Nigerians, particularly those in the North-West region, to participate in or observe the state burial proceedings.

Buhari, a native of Daura, served as Nigeria’s military head of state between January 1984 and August 1985 before returning to power as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023.

Though praised in some quarters for his austere lifestyle and perceived integrity, his tenure was also marred by controversies — including human rights violations, the killing of Shiite Muslims and others, widespread insecurity, economic hardship, and allegations of nepotism.

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