₦airaland Forum

Muhammadu Buhari's final rank while in service was major general, but as commander in chief he had the rank of field marshal.


The pall bearers at Muhammadu Buhari's funeral were major generals, rear admirals and air vice marshals. But there was one exception. Surprisingly the Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, acted as a pall bearer.



One of the pall bearers at President Buhari's funeral was Major General Mike Alechenu. He's one of the Nigerian soldiers that defended Mammy Yoko Hotel in Sierra Leone in 1997.

There's a hotel in Freetown called Mammy Yoko Hotel. Lots of foreign journalists and NGO officials stayed at the hotel. Rebels became convinced that Nigerian Ecomog troops were about to attack them from the hotel (the hotel had a helipad).

The rebels attacked the hotel and the Nigerians were outnumbere 3 to 1, but they managed to defend the hotel and chase away the rebels. The Nigerian Government sent more troops to Sierra Leone that same week. This is a video of the battle from inside the hotel.


The video also shows US troops evacuating some civilians from Freetown.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knpxnNb9JQw?si=zdTJELtwVY_7odoG

The casket or body of a fallen hero is usually draped with the flag during the funeral and then the flag is given to his next of kin before burial.

The flag was removed from President Buhari's body and Major General Mike Alechenu gave it to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Chris Musa, who gave it to President Tinubu who gave it to Aisha Buhari.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8ElUHUif50?si=pvx2jHOxqBiCRzef

Photo 1) Lieutenant Mike Alechenu on the roof of Mammy Yoko Hotel, Sierra Leone in 1997.

Photos 2 and 3) Major General Mike Alechenu gives the flag to the CDS.

Photo 4) Aisha Buhari hugs the flag.

THE NAMES OF THE PALL BEARERS

President Tinubu Receives Remains of Former President Buhari in Katsina Ahead of Final Rites in Daura

July 15, 2025

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday received the remains of former President Muhammadu Buhari at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina.

President Tinubu arrived at the airport from Abuja at 1:42 p.m. and inspected a guard of honour before the Nigerian Air Force plane conveying the remains of his predecessor landed at exactly 1:51 p.m.

Former President Buhari passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in a London hospital.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, President Buhari’s wife Aisha, and other family members accompanied President Buhari’s remains to Nigeria.

President Tinubu, along with Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Umaru Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, Prime Minister of Niger, Ali Lamine Zeine, former President of Niger, Issoufou Mahamadou, and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, received the casket of the late president at the foot of the aircraft.

A joint team of military pallbearers comprising nine senior officers laid the casket, draped with the Nigerian flag, on a trolley. The team included Major-General Mohammed Usman, Major-General Oluwafemi Williams, Major-General Shuaibu Nuhu, Rear Admiral Suleiman Dahun, Rear Admiral Jonathan Ajodo, Rear Admiral Samuel Ngatuwa, Air Vice Marshal Adeniyi Herbert Amesinlola, Air Vice Marshal Idi Sanni, and Air Vice Marshal Obinna Obiabaka. Major General Mike Alechenu coordinated the team.

The pallbearers wheeled the former leader’s casket in a slow march, in sync with the hymn “God Be With You Till We Meet Again,” passing through a full military guard of honour comprising six officers and 96 soldiers drawn from the Nigerian Armed Forces.

President Tinubu and others walked behind the casket trolley in a solemn procession. The pallbearers escorted the casket into a waiting military hearse for the one-hour journey to Daura, where funeral prayers and the burial ceremony would take place.

The state funeral featured full military honours, including a 21-gun salute.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
July 15, 2025

https://statehouse.gov.ng/news/president-tinubu-receives-remains-of-former-president-buhari-in-katsina-ahead-of-final-rites-in-daura/

The body of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The nation has lost a rare gem

Hmmmmm very interesting

Hmmmmm!

Same would be done to all who have tasted this power, especially the military men.

Should the flag be in a pack..?

Naija own go different

I miss you, president Buhari.

While you were in office, I bought a direct toks 2010 Corolla Sport for 2.4Million naira only.

Filled my fuel tank with 10K naira.

Entered Okada for 50 naira.

My monthly electricity estimated bill was 2,500 naira for a good family sized apartment.

Bought a bag of foreign rice for 20k.

Paid 12,500 naira for my yearly university tuition fee.

R.I.P Gen.

Inside life


She don turn widow be that.

Life.. life life

Body is carry the nuclear weapons box


What if it is needed urgently

Aisha knew the Answers to all our Questions about Baba Buhari, but In deep secrecy they all dine and wine

That is how he will handover power to ADC in 2027...ajeh!

BTW:

My sincere opinion about late Muhammadu Buhari's civilian rule:

Buhari, as a person, was an honest, disciplined, sincere, and a simple man. Despite acquiring some military trainings in the US, England, and India, he still lived a life devoid of extravagance.

I believe he ruled as a civilian president to the best of his capabilities. He also ruled based on the advice from his Special Advisers. He couldn't have known it all. As much as I reckon that his civilian administration took us many years aback, I believe it was never his intention things turned out that way. As much as I also reckon that he faltered in some of his utterances as a leader, he was a human afterall!

This is my humble opinion, though!

bigpicture001:
Should the flag be in a pack..?

Naija own go different

The flag is folded and put in a box for safe keeping.

All I know is that it's better to meet God in d seat of mercy than to meet him in d seat of judgement,let God b d final judge

Crazy ballads here and over there, a nation that hates the truth and uprightness. I’ll always remember you were President when End Sars happened in Lagos.

The last General that handed over to Tinubu nearly missed his step. Hopefully the man is fit. Abi I no see well?

Military traditions, always good to watch.

Once again, may the Buhari family be comforted as they embark on this new journey in life without their father.

Nothing is promise in life except death..... He came he saw and conquered. Keep resting in the bossom of the lord. Sooner or later we all we join you soon. I just pray we have good ending it matters

naptu2:
The flag is folded and put in a box for safe keeping.

Sh does the safe keeping not the country...

It should be visible that it is a flag... And even folded in her presence

Every man leaves a legacy whether they like it or not

Gen Alech , I see you Sir

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bigpicture001:
Sh does the safe keeping not the country...

It should be visible that it is a flag... And even folded in her presence

Hahahaha

OK, now I understand that you are just tr olling.

It was folded and the naval rating was one of the people that folded it. She gave it to the RSM who put it in a box. It's right there in the video.

Or you don't have data to watch it?

bigpicture001:
Should the flag be in a pack..?

Naija own go different

E suppose dey inside pure water nylon bah?

Because i dont understand your point exactly!

SoftSport:
The nation has lost a rare gem

Rare gem? How?

See the suffering since his second return as civilians.

Also in his first military time same thing happened

But yusuf dey use one hand dry shake tinubu if it was seyi can he try that with bubu.

naptu2:
Hahahaha

OK, now I understand that you are just tr olling.

It was folded and the naval rating was one of the people that folded it. She gave it to the RSM who put it in a box. It's right there in the video.

Or you don't have data to watch it?

Better like that... Not just handing over packet of flag...

Yes, I HV just 1G left

May the souls of the Lekki Toll Gate victims of 20-10-2020 forgive him, or not. Over to them!

Buhari is the second best president Nigeria ever produced . PBAT is no 1

SoftSport:
The nation has lost a rare gem

Yes, indeed.
Attitudes like this, don't make anyone want to be good anymore.
Because no matter how bad you're or how much wrong you do, a lot of people will support you when you're alive and also call you a rare gem when you're gone.