Contrary to the usual practice of placing caskets in an aircraft’s cargo hold, the body of former President Muhammadu Buhari was flown to Nigeria in the main cabin of a Nigerian Air Force jet.

The decision, it was gathered, followed the discovery that the casket could not fit into the aircraft’s cargo compartment.

Rather than resorting to the use of a body bag that would fit into the hold, handlers resolved to transport the casket in the aircraft’s cabin.

To make this possible, the front seats in the cabin were collapsed and tables unfolded to create a bed-like platform where the casket could be securely and respectfully laid.

A source said, “You would have noticed that the remains of the former President were not in the cargo hold, as is the standard procedure, but in the main cabin.

“The corpse was brought in a casket draped with the Nigerian flag. However, it could not fit into the aircraft’s hold, which isn’t designed for such items, and the British airport authorities wouldn’t budge due to safety concerns.

“So, to avoid using a body bag, it took considerable time and persuasion to properly wrap the remains and drape them in the national flag. The front seats were then collapsed and the tables unfolded to create a bed-like space for the remains to be tied down.”

As a mark of honour, a joint team of nine senior military officials served as pallbearers, laying the flag-draped casket on a trolley.

The team, coordinated by Maj Gen Mike Alechenu, included Maj Gen Mohammed Usman, Maj Gen Oluwafemi Williams, Maj Gen Shuaibu Nuhu, Rear Adm Suleiman Dahun, Rear Adm Jonathan Ajodo, Rear Adm Samuel Ngatuwa, Air Vice Marshal Adeniyi Amesinlola, Air Vice Marshal Idi Sanni, and Air Vice Marshal Obinna Obiabaka.

In a slow march synchronised with the hymn, “God Be With You Till We Meet Again,” the pallbearers wheeled the casket through a full military guard of honour comprising six officers and 96 soldiers drawn from the Nigerian Armed Forces.

President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other dignitaries walked behind the trolley in a solemn procession.

The pallbearers then conveyed the casket into a waiting military hearse for the one-hour trip to Daura, where funeral prayers and interment took place.

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

Earlier, Tinubu, accompanied by Vice President Shettima, received the casket at the foot of the aircraft.

Also present were President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau; Niger Republic’s Prime Minister, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine; former Nigerien President Issoufou Mahamadou; and Buhari’s immediate past Vice President, Prof Osinbajo.

Tinubu had arrived at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport, Katsina, at 1:42 pm, and inspected a guard of honour before the Nigerian Air Force jet conveying Buhari’s remains landed at exactly 1:51 pm.

A large crowd flooded Daura to pay their last respects, with many youths seen climbing trees for a glimpse of Buhari as he was laid to rest at his residence.