Breaking: Chief of Army Staff is dead

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, has passed away at the age of 56. He died on Tuesday night after a period of illness.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, shared the news in a statement posted Wednesday on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, deeply regrets to announce the passing of Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, Chief of the Army Staff, aged 56. He passed away on Tuesday night in Lagos after an illness,” the statement read.

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 with his enrollment at the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1987. He graduated from the 39th Regular Course and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps on September 19, 1992.

Lt. General Lagbaja served in various key capacities, including as platoon commander in the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion. He contributed significantly to several major internal security operations, such as Operation ZAKI in Benue State, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in the Southeast, and Operation Forest Sanity in Kaduna and Niger States.

A committed military professional, Lt. General Lagbaja was an alumnus of the U.S. Army War College, where he earned a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies, underscoring his dedication to excellence in leadership and professional development.