President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met behind closed doors with Mahamat Idriss Deby, President of Chad’s Transitional Military Council, in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Mr Deby, who took over the mantle of leadership in Chad after the assassination of his father on April 19, 2021, is on a one-day official visit to Nigeria.

It was reliably gathered that Mr Deby’s visit to Nigeria was aimed at formally introducing himself to Mr Buhari, who is considered the most influential leader in the West African sub-region and Africa at large.

The two leaders might use the opportunity of their meeting to deliberate on the menace of terrorism and arms proliferation threatening the peace and security of the sub-region.

Nigeria and Chad share boundaries in the Sahel region.

Mr Deby had earlier visited the Republic of Niger on May 11. 

Mr Buhari had last April called for an early return to democratic governance to prevent Chad’s crisis from worsening, fearing that a tumultuous Chad could exacerbate Nigeria’s acute insecurity.

Mr Deby was assassinated on Tuesday by a rebel group, which led to the emergence of his 37-year-old son as the head of interim government.