President Muhammadu Buhari’s extended family has been struck by the loss of two senior members who died within a few hours of one another.

Mrs Halima Dauda, buried in Daura on Saturday morning, was the president’s niece and younger sister to his close associate and nephew, Mr Mamman Daura.

She died at about the age of 56, leaving behind 10 children, four of them male and six female including one of President Buhari’s personal assistants, Mr Mohammed Sabi’u Tunde.

The burial, according to Mr Garba Shehu, spokesperson to the president, was attended by a federal government delegation led by Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Abba Kyari.

Others on the team were Mr Hadi Sirika, Minister of State in charge of aviation; Mr Isma’ila Isa and Mr Sayyu Dantata, both of them businessmen; three Senior Special Assistants to the President, Mr Sarki Abba, Mr Ya’u Darazo and Mr Garba Shehu; Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mr Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar, Permanent Secretary, State House, Mr Jalal Arabi and State Chief of Protocol, Mr Lawal Kazaure.

The Buhari family had earlier buried Mrs Ai’sha Mamman on Friday. She was wife of the president’s older brother, Mr Mamman.

“Receiving condolences, Mamman on behalf of the family and Emir, Mr Umar Faruk for the people of Daura Emirate thanked God for the lives of the deceased and all the visitors for sharing the moment of grief with them,” the statement said.

It also said among those received by the family in Daura are Governor of Bauchi State, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, EFCC Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu and a former Military Governor of Kaduna State, Mr Jafaru Isa.

PT