President Muhammadu Buhari has described late President of Chad, Idriss Deby as a “friend of Nigeria” whose death left him “deeply shocked and devastated”.
The president disclosed this in a Tuesday statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu.
Chad’s military announced on Tuesday that the president died of injuries sustained following clashes with rebels in the north of the country at the weekend.
Deby, who seized power following a rebellion in 1990, was on the verge of clinching a sixth term in office.
His 37-year-old son, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, has been appointed to lead a Transitional Military Council expected to hold power for 18 months.
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In its statement, the Nigerian presidency lamented that his death would create a “big vacuum” in efforts to defeat Boko Haram.
The statement read:
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.”
Reacting to the incident on Tuesday, 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.”
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.”
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 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.