President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Katsina State, Northwest Nigeria, for the burial of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
Tinubu’s plane touched down at the Katsina Airport at 01:50 pm on Tuesday. The president was received by top government officials, including governors and ministers.
Tinubu is expected to receive the body of the late military general and ex-president who ruled Nigeria cumulatively for nine years and eight months.
Buhari’s body is expected to be flown to Katsina anytime soon from London ahead of his burial in his rustic hometown in Daura, an agrarian community some three hours to Katsina.
Tinubu inspected the guards of honour upon his arrival at the airport. Shortly after this ritual, the plane conveying the remains of the late former president arrived at the airport and was received by the president.
UPDATED: Buhari’s Body Arrives In Katsina, Leaves For Daura
Ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s body has arrived at the Katsina Airport and is now being taken to Daura, the ex-president’s hometown, where he will be buried.
The body, accompanied by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and some family members of the late former president, landed at the airport runway at about 1:59 pm.
President Bola Tinubu was also on the ground to receive the corpse.
Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State, and members of the Katsina State Executive Council, Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibril, among other dignitaries, were equally on the ground to receive the corpse alongside some family members of the late former President.
Buhari’s body, draped in the Nigerian flag, was brought down from the Nigerian Air Force aircraft by officials of the Nigerian Military at the Umaru Musa Yar’adua International Airport in Katsina, Katsina.
First Lady, Remi Tinubu, was also among those present and was captured welcoming and comforting the late Buhari’s widow, Aisha Buhari.
After a military farewell parade, his remains taken to Daura, where he will be buried after receiving a military farewell.
Buhari’s body departed London in the United Kingdom around 8 am on Tuesday. The former president died on Sunday at The London Clinic at about 4.30 pm after a prolonged illness. However, the nature of the illness was not disclosed. He was 82.
The late president was Nigeria’s second-longest-serving president, having ruled the West African country as a military leader between January 1984 and August 1985. In 2015, he became the democratically elected president, finishing his eight-year tenure in 2023.
