Body of Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari Leaves UK to Nigeria for Burial in Daura

The body of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away at the age of 82 in a London hospital on Sunday, is being flown back to Nigeria for a simple Islamic burial in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State.

Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda, currently in London alongside members of Buhari’s family, confirmed that the late president’s remains would be flown back for burial later the same day.

“I just left his family at the hospital where he died, and the decision is that his remains will be taken to Daura for burial.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who is also in London, will accompany the late president’s body back to Nigeria. In a social media post, Shettima reaffirmed Daura as Buhari’s final resting place and described his death as a “deep loss to the nation.”

Though Buhari was a former head of state and two-time president, there will be no state funeral, in accordance with Islamic tradition. Buhari will be given a modest and swift burial, typical of Islamic rites, unless the body arrives late in the evening, in which case the interment would be held Tuesday morning, according to Islamic cleric Abdullahi Garangamawa.

“The only thing that should stop Buhari’s corpse from being buried today Monday is if his body arrives in Daura in the night because Islam frowns at night burials,” Garangamawa told the BBC.