President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the sudden and tragic death of President Idriss Deby of Chad on the front line, fighting against rebel soldiers.
President Buhari said; “I’m deeply shocked and devastated by the sudden death of Idriss Deby on the battle front to defend the sovereignty of his country.”
Active role
According to the President, “the late Deby had played a very active role in our regional joint collaboration in the military campaign against the Boko Haram terrorists.”
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President Buhari described the late Chadian leader “as a friend of Nigeria who had enthusiastically lent his hand in our efforts to defeat the murderous Boko Haram terrorists that have posed grave security challenges not only for Nigeria, but also our African neighbours, particularly Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic.”
He stated that “the death of Deby will surely create a big vacuum in the efforts to jointly confront the Boko Haram terrorists and the Islamic State West Africa Province.”
While condoling with the people of Chad and their new leader, President Buhari called for greater collaboration to defeat the terrorists.
President Idriss Deby, 68, died on Tuesday of wounds sustained on the battlefield fighting rebels in the Country’s north.
His death came hours after he had been declared the winner of an election that would have given him another six years in power.
The late President ruled Chad for more than 30 years and became an important ally to Western nations in the fight against Islamic extremism in Africa.
Dominica Nwabufo
