Nigeria mourns the passing of Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff, who died Tuesday night in Lagos following an illness.
The sad news was announced by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday.
In a statement, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed his deep condolences, saying, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, regrets to announce the passing of Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, Chief of the Army Staff, at age 56.
” The president honored Lagbaja’s enduring dedication to Nigeria, noting, “President Tinubu expresses his heartfelt condolences to the family and the Nigerian Armed Forces during this difficult time.
He wishes Lt. General Lagbaja eternal peace and honors his significant contributions to the nation.”
Lt. General Lagbaja, appointed Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2023, had a remarkable career marked by courage and a commitment to national security.
He was involved in key internal security operations such as Operation ZAKI in Benue State, Lafiya Dole in Borno, and Operation Forest Sanity across Kaduna and Niger States.
An alumnus of the U.S. Army War College, he was known for his dedication to duty and effective leadership.
Survived by his wife Mariya and their two children, Lagbaja leaves behind a legacy of valor and service.
Following his illness, President Tinubu had appointed Olufemi Oluyede as acting Chief of Army Staff, a role that was made permanent on Tuesday when Oluyede was formally decorated as Lieutenant General.
