Social media users have expressed mixed reactions following the burial of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who was laid to rest in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, on Tuesday, July 15.
While the ceremony was marked by military honours and Islamic funeral rites, it was the simplicity of the burial site that sparked widespread reaction online, with many questioning its modest appearance for a former head of state.
The burial took place in the courtyard of his private residence, shortly after Janazah (funeral) prayers held at a nearby makeshift ground.
Buhari’s casket, draped in the green-white-green Nigerian flag, was carried to the graveside by military pallbearers, accompanied by a ceremonial gurney.
He was laid to rest at approximately 5:50 p.m., in line with Islamic traditions and his wish to be buried in his hometown rather than at a public cemetery or national monument.
Muhammadu Buhari Simple Burial Sparks Mixed Reactions
Despite being a former head of state, Muhammadu Buhari’s send-off lacked the grandeur associated with burials of such profile.
Hammad Jefferson questioned the disconnect between faith and practice: “Islam is a way of life, but it’s Muslims who tarnish the image of Islam. But still, with their stolen county billions, this is how we will bury them.”
“Whether you have an offshore account or not, you will still discharge that small shit while your soul is being detached from your body.”
Juma Ahmed emphasized that Buhari’s burial was in line with Islamic teachings: “This is how all Muslims are buried, regardless of social status or wealth.”
Others saw the simplicity of the burial as a moral reckoning. “Naked we came, we leave with nothing,” wrote Keneth Wa Kibe.
“It doesn’t matter how one was president—oppressing others, stealing public land and money, abductions, murdering dissidents, chest-thumping. It’s all useless. Vanity of vanities. The end game is the same for all dictators.”
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Abdullahi Adan echoed similar sentiments: “Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, once among Africa’s most powerful leaders, was laid to rest in a manner that surprised many—a burial so simple and modest that it stripped away every symbol of the power he once wielded. No golden casket.”
For some, the burial served as a reminder of life’s fleeting nature.
“Nigeria’s former President Buhari being buried in line with Muslim faith—nothing at all, not even a casket—is a true reminder that all these earthly things are vanity,” said Alcolli Gold.
Newton Mwangi added, “The illusion of power and riches easily corrupt mortal men. Yet in the end, we leave as we came.”
Others drew comparisons between religious customs. “It’s only in Christianity where we celebrate the dead. In Islam, it’s as simple as this,” observed Benson Kyalo.
The coffin had arrived earlier at the airport in Katsina, where it was received by President Bola Tinubu, senior government officials, and mourners dressed in traditional Muslim attire.
The former president was accorded a military parade and a 21-gun salute at the airport before his body was transported to Daura, approximately 80 kilometres away.
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Buhari Legacy
Muhammadu Buhari, who ruled Africa’s most populous nation from 2015 to 2023, died on Sunday July 14 in a London hospital after battling an undisclosed illness.
He was one of two former Nigerian military rulers to return to power through democratic elections.
Buhari first rose to power in the early 1980s after leading a military coup. Decades later, he made a political comeback by defeating incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 general election.
His eight-year tenure was marred by economic recession, foreign currency shortages, declining oil production, and worsening insecurity across the country.
Despite these challenges, Buhari maintained a cult-like following in his home state and across northern Nigeria, where many admired his austere lifestyle and his commitment to fighting corruption.
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