Nigeria's former President Muhammad Buhari was buried on Tuesday in the backyard of his home in northern Katsina state, as residents climbed trees to bid farewell to the 82-year-old.

Muhammadu Buhari, the former president of Nigeria who led the country as both a military ruler after a coup and later as the elected president, has died at the age of 82, his family said.

Former Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari -- who led his country first as a junta strongman and later as an elected democrat -- died Sunday at the age of 82, his aide and the presidency said. His election victory in a country where re-election for the incumbent had been taken for granted was seen as a rare opportunity for Nigeria to change course.