The Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, President Bola Tinubu, has announced the passing of Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff. He was 56 years old.
A statement from the Presidency, signed by Bayo Onanuga, confirmed that Lt. General Lagbaja passed away on Tuesday night in Lagos after a period of illness. The nature of the illness was not disclosed.
Born on February 28, 1968, Lt. General Lagbaja was appointed Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2023, by President Tinubu. His distinguished military career began when he enrolled in the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1987. On September 19, 1992, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps as a member of the 39th Regular Course.
Throughout his service, Lt. General Lagbaja demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment. He served as a platoon commander in the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion and played pivotal roles in numerous internal security operations, including Operation ZAKI in Benue State, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in Southeast Nigeria, and Operation Forest Sanity across Kaduna and Niger States.
An alumnus of the prestigious U.S. Army War College, Lt. General Lagbaja earned a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies, showcasing his dedication to professional growth and military excellence.
Lt. General Lagbaja is survived by his wife, Mariya, and their two children.
President Tinubu expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family and the Nigerian Armed Forces during this difficult time. He wished Lt. General Lagbaja eternal peace and honoured his significant contributions to the nation.
Earlier in October, there had been rumors circulating about the death of the Chief of Army Staff, with reports suggesting he had died in an undisclosed hospital abroad. However, the Defence Headquarters swiftly dispelled these rumors, clarifying that Lt. General Lagbaja was on annual leave.
READ ALSO: Tinubu Promotes Acting Army Chief Oluyede to Lt General
Army spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, emphasized that there was no leadership vacuum in the Nigerian Army and that the operations of the service continued smoothly under the leadership of Major General Abdulsalami Ibrahim, who had been appointed to act as the Chief of Army Staff during Lt. General Lagbaja’s absence.
Nwachukwu noted that the Nigerian Army had well-established protocols for handling such situations and that there was no disruption to the service’s activities.
In his statement, Nwachukwu had said: “There have even been insinuations that there is a leadership vacuum, with officers confused about what to do. Nothing could be further from the truth. To be very clear, the Nigerian Army is a highly structured establishment with well-laid-out procedures and processes for dealing with different circumstances.”
Following Lt. General Lagbaja’s passing, the nation mourns the loss of a respected military leader, whose contributions to national security and the Nigerian Armed Forces will long be remembered.
