Buhari reacts to tragic assassination of ex-Japan PM Shinzo Abe

Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the people of Japan over the tragic assassination of its former Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe.

Abe, Japan’s longest-serving leader, did not survive after being shot while campaigning for a parliamentary election on Friday.

He died in the hospital.

A man opened fire on Abe, 67, from behind with an apparently homemade gun as he spoke at a drab traffic island in the western city of Nara, Japanese media showed earlier.

Reacting to his death, Buhari extended Nigeria’s heartfelt condolences to the family of Abe, and to the Government and people of Japan in the wake of the gruesome assassination of former Prime Minister.

The President, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Femi Adesina joined all Japanese in mourning the loss of the country’s longest serving Prime Minister and outstanding leader, assuring the family of Abe of the prayers and thoughts of all Nigerians during this difficult time.

Buhari recalled that Abe would be remembered for his unwavering commitment to strengthening trade and investment between Africa and Japan through various initiatives and partnerships, using the instrumentality of Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD)

The President also affirmed that under Abe, Nigeria and Japan enjoyed a strategic partnership, supporting each other’s shared aspirations on economic cooperation, healthcare, human resource development, disaster risk reduction, peace and security.

The Nigerian leader prayed that the memory of the Japanese statesman and respected international leader would be a blessing to his nation and people, whom he served so devotedly.