The Katsina State Government has declared Monday, July 14, a public holiday to honor and mourn the passing of one of its most prominent sons, former President Muhammadu Buhari.

This was made known late Sunday by the Secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Garba Faskari, who explained that the holiday would give people across the state the chance to grieve, reflect, and pray for the late leader.

Buhari, who hailed from Daura in Katsina State, died on Sunday in London after a prolonged illness. His body is expected to arrive Nigeria today and will be buried in his hometown, Daura, in accordance with Islamic rites.

Meanwhile, as directed by President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima has already departed Abuja for London to accompany Buhari’s remains back home.

The mood in Katsina is somber, with residents expressing both sorrow and admiration for Buhari’s decades of service to Nigeria, first as a military leader and later as a democratically elected president for two terms.

As funeral preparations continue, prayers are being held across mosques and communities in the state, with many asking Almighty Allah to forgive Buhari’s shortcomings and grant him eternal rest.