By Joke Kujenya
SESCURITY HAS been reinforced at the Daura residence of late President Muhammadu Buhari as his body departs London, United Kingdom (UK), en route to his hometown in Katsina State for burial.
The Nigerian presidential aircraft, bearing the remains of the 82-year-old former leader, left the UK early Tuesday morning ahead of a solemn state funeral scheduled for this afternoon.
The journey marks Buhari’s final return home following his death on Sunday evening at a London hospital after a yet-to-be-disclosed illness.
His body is expected to arrive at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Airport in Katsina by midday before continuing by road to Daura, his hometown, for burial in line with Islamic rites.
Footage broadcasts captured the moment Buhari’s body was lifted into the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) jet under a heavy security presence in London.
Personnel from the Nigerian Army, Police, and Department of State Services (DSS) form part of a broad security arrangement now active in Daura and surrounding areas, as the town braces for the arrival of dignitaries and mourners from across Nigeria and beyond.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Sunday, led a high-level delegation to London to accompany the body home, following directives from President Bola Tinubu.
The delegation is scheduled to reunite with the president at the airport before the body is formally received.
Tinubu has declared Tuesday a public holiday across Nigeria and announced a seven-day national mourning period.
A special government committee chaired by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, is overseeing funeral arrangements.
Members include ministers from defence, finance, health, interior, information, culture, and other strategic sectors, as well as top-ranking security officials.
A government release notes that the state funeral will begin at 2:00pm local time in Daura.
Government officials, political figures, and African leaders are expected to be in attendance as Nigeria bids farewell to one of its most consequential public figures, who served both as military head of state and later as democratically elected president.
