The body of former President Muhammadu Buhari arrived in Katsina State on Tuesday afternoon ahead of his final burial rites in his hometown of Daura.
The body touched down at the Katsina airport at exactly 2:07 p.m., shortly after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also landed in the state to attend the funeral.
Accompanying the late president’s remains were Vice President Kashim Shettima, chief of staff Femi Gbajabiamila, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum and members of Buhari’s family.
The delegation had departed London on Tuesday morning, where Mr Buhari died on Sunday at the age of 82, following a prolonged illness.
At the airport, a military honour guard stood in formation to pay final respects to the late general, who had previously served as Nigeria’s military head of state from 1983 to 1985, before being democratically elected president in 2015 and re-elected in 2019.
President Tinubu, Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and other dignitaries received the body and are expected to proceed to Daura for the funeral prayers and burial, scheduled to take place at the Emir’s palace and Buhari’s residence.
A state burial is being held in honour of Buhari, with flags flying at half-mast nationwide and a seven-day mourning period declared by the Federal Government.
