From Bello Wakili
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over “the tragic death of President Idriss Deby of Chad on the front line, fighting against rebel soldiers.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu
According to the statement, President Buhari said he was deeply shocked and devastated by the death of Idriss Deby on the battle front to defend the sovereignty of his country.
It explained that the late Deby had played a very active role in west regional joint collaboration in the military campaign against the Boko Haram terrorists.
President Buhari described the late Chadian leader “as a friend of Nigeria who had enthusiastically lent his hand in Nigeria’s efforts to defeat the Boko Haram terrorists that have posed grave security challenges not only for Nigeria, but also neighbouring countries hparticularly Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic.
He added 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.