Nigeria is mourning the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away in London on Sunday at the age of 82 after a prolonged illness. The announcement was made by a spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, who confirmed the time of death as approximately 4:30 p.m. local time.
President Tinubu has directed Vice President Kashim Shettima and his chief of staff to travel to London to retrieve Buhari’s body and accompany it back to Nigeria for burial. Government officials stated that Buhari, a devout Muslim, will be buried according to Islamic rites in his native Katsina State, located in the country’s northwest.
Buhari served as Nigeria’s president from 2015 to 2023, becoming the first Nigerian to defeat an incumbent president at the polls. Before his civilian leadership, he held power as a military ruler following a coup in the 1980s. He later embraced democratic governance, often describing himself as a “converted democrat.” 
Known for his firm stance on anti-corruption, Buhari built a loyal base of supporters who admired his discipline and conservative values. During his presidency, he frequently repeated the phrase, “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody,” signaling his commitment to impartial governance.
His death marks the end of an era in Nigerian politics, closing the chapter on a figure who straddled both military and civilian leadership while remaining a symbol of strong leadership and national service. Tributes from political leaders and citizens alike have begun pouring in as the nation prepares to lay one of its most prominent statesmen to rest.
