Fatima Buhari, the first daughter of former President Muhammadu Buhari, broke down in tears on Tuesday as her father’s body arrived in Daura, Katsina State, for burial.
Mrs Fatima, who appeared visibly heartbroken, was seen weeping quietly as she was comforted by relatives and friends at the family residence in Daura.
Other members of the Buhari family also gathered at his home to receive the body, which was flown in from London aboard a Nigerian Air Force aircraft earlier in the day.
Former President Buhari died on Sunday at the age of 82, after a prolonged illness.
His remains were transported to Nigeria on Tuesday for burial.
The body was flown in by a federal delegation dispatched by President Bola Tinubu on Sunday, led by Vice President Kashim Shettima and chief of staff Femi Gbajabiamila, who had travelled to London to personally escort the late former president’s remains home.
The burial ceremony is being coordinated by a 25-member Presidential Burial Committee set up by President Bola Tinubu and led by secretary to the government of the federation, Senator George Akume.
The committee is working with the Katsina State Government and the Buhari family to ensure a dignified and orderly funeral.
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, also travelled to Daura to attend the burial, alongside other high-profile guests and dignitaries.
The 82-year-old served as Nigeria’s military leader from 1983 to 1985 and as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023, will be laid to rest following funeral prayers at the Emir’s palace by 2:00 p.m., in line with Islamic traditions.
In honour of Buhari’s legacy, the Federal Government declared Tuesday a public holiday and announced a seven-day national mourning period.
During this time, all national flags will fly at half-mast across Nigeria and at embassies abroad.
Condolence registers have been opened at federal ministries, Nigerian embassies and at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, allowing citizens and government officials to pay their final respects.
