Prominent Nigerians, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his predecessor, Muhammadu Bujhari, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, Wednesday eulogised the gallantry of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, who passed on Tuesday in Lagos after a period of illness.
Aged 56, the deceased military chief was appointed some 16 months ago, precisely 19, June 2023.
The presidency, in a terse statement, announced the death of the army chief.
The statement, signed by the presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, said Lagbaja, who had been indisposed for about a month, “passed away on Tuesday night in Lagos after a period of illness.
“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 honours his significant contributions to the nation,” he said.
There were speculations a couple of weeks back that the army chief had passed on, but this was dismissed by the Defence Headquarters which said Lagbaja was on leave.
And just as the dust over the confusion was yet to settle down, President Tinubu announced Major General Olufemi Oluyede as acting chief of army staff, who was later promoted Lieutenant-General, the same rank Lagbaja had.
This fuelled speculation that the coast was already clear that Oluyede would be stepping in as Lagbaja’s successor in substantive capacity.
…Flags flown at half-mast
In line with tradition, President Tinubu has ordered that national flags be flown at half-mast in honour of the late military chief.
Disclosing this in a statement, Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of Federation (OSGF), Segun Imohiosen, said President Tinubu has “directed that national flags be flown at half-mast throughout the country for seven days in honour of the departed army chief.”
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Born on 28 February 1968 in Ilobu, Osun state, General Lagbaja was appointed COAS on 19, June 2023, by President Tinubu to succeed Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya.
Lagbaja spent his early life in Osogbo where he attended the popular St Charles Grammar School and Local Authority Teachers College.
His distinguished military career began when he was admitted into the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy in the year 1987 as a member of the 39th Regular Course.
He was commissioned as a second lieutenant on 19 September 1992 into the Nigerian Infantry Corps. Between 1992 and 1995, Lagbaja was platoon commander of the 93 Battalion. From 1995 to 2001, he was platoon commander of 72 Special Forces Battalion.
In 2001, Lagbaja obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Geography from the Nigerian Defence Academy, and also studied Strategic Studies at the US Army War College at the Master’s level.
He was an instructor at the Nigerian Defence Academy from 2001 to 2004, and also at a time, a Grade 2 Staff Officer in charge of peacekeeping at the Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and Operations, and much later as a Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji from 2006 to 2009.