Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has described President Idriss Deby of Chad, who died on Tuesday from injuries sustained while fighting the rebels, as a gallant leader.
In a condolence message issued by presidential spokesman on Tuesday, Mallam Garba Shehu, Buhari expressed sadness over “the sudden and tragic death of President Deby on the front line, fighting against rebel soldiers.”
“I’m deeply shocked and devastated by the sudden death of Idriss Deby on the battlefront to defend the sovereignty of his country.
“The late Deby had played a very active role in our regional joint collaboration in the military campaign against the Boko Haram terrorists,” he said.
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.”
“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,” he said.
While condoling with the people of Chad and their new leader, Buhari called for greater collaboration to defeat the terrorists.
GIK/APA