ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – Chadian President Idris Deby has denied knowledge of where terrorist sect leader, Abubakar Shekau is.
This is even as he has commended the joint efforts by both Nigeria and Chad that has successfully weakened Boko Haram.
Deby had in March in Chadian capital, N’djamena at a press conference, said that he knew the whereabouts of Shekau, saying that the terrorist sect’s leader was seen in Dikwa, a village in Borno State two days earlier.
Deby, who was in the Presidential Villa to visit President Goodluck Jonathan, commended the president for the statesmanship he demonstrated by conceding defeat, and calling President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to congratulate him, adding that Nigeria and the sub-region are today enjoying peace because of that singular act.
Fielding questions from State House correspondents after having a one-on-one with Jonathan, Deby also regreted that the Nigerian Army and the Chadian Army were working separately in the field, saying they are not undertaking joint operation. If they were having a joint operation probably they would have achieved more results, he said.
On the whereabouts of Shekau, Deby replied: “I cannot tell you today that I know where Shekau is hiding and even if I knew I won’t tell you”.
On his purpose of visit, he said “I came to consult with my brother President Goodluck Jonathan. As you all know Nigeria and Chad are two countries that have a lot of similarities in fighting insurgents.
“Chad has had its own problems in the 70s and 80s and Nigeria assisted Chad during those difficulties times.
“On the 2015 general elections, I came principally to congratulate Mr. President for the statesmanship he demonstrated during the elections. We all know that elections in Africa are always contested but Mr. President demonstrated a lot of statesmanship, that he is a real democrat by conceding and congratulating the president-elect.
“You all know that when Nigeria sneezes the neighbouring countries catch cold. If Mr. President had not taken that laudable initiative you all know what would have happened now. Nigeria is still living in peace, you all are living in peace and that would not have happened but for that laudable initiative he took.
“So I came to congratulate him for leaving a legacy not only for Nigeria but for Africa as a whole”.
The Chadian President speaking on the fight against Boko Haram said, “As you all know we both worked together to fight Boko Haram. I thought it was important that before Mr. President leaves office I will come for us to have overview of what we did together, what we achieved together in the fight against Boko Haram.
“It is true Boko Haram has not been completely eradicated but they have been tremendously weakened. I did not want to wait and come during the inauguration of the new government. I thought I should come to consult with Mr. President, to congratulate him and to have this exchange and have overview of what we have been able to achieve in the fight against Boko Haram.
”Still on the issue of Boko Haram, in the Lake Chad Basin there are four countries Cameroon, Nigeria, Chad and Niger that are currently securing the area. The four countries have managed to form a multinational mixed force that will metaphorse to what is probably known as a Rapid Response Force that the African Union is trying to form for Africa”.
Asked the relationship between the multinational task force fighting in Lake Chad and the South African mercenaries fighting with them, President Deby said, “I have no information concerning mercenaries from South Africa”.