Nigerian Chief Of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja Dies At 56

The presidency on Wednesday confirmed his death.

The ailing Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, has died at the age of 56 years.

Lagbaja, born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Osun State, was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023, as the 27th Chief of Army Staff.

The presidency on Wednesday confirmed his death.

“Announcement of the Passing of Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja. 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.

“He passed away on Tuesday night in Lagos after a period of illness. Born on February 28, 1968, Lt. General Lagbaja was appointed Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2023, by President Tinubu,” a statement by Bayo Onanuga said.

SaharaReporters had exclusively reported how the Army General was flown abroad by his family members to attend to his medical needs.
Sources described his ailment as “strange” to SaharaReporters.
“The Chief of Army Staff is nowhere to be found for many days now. He hasn’t been seen at the Army headquarters or any military function in the last three weeks. I can confirm to you that he is seriously sick and was taken to the hospital. However, his family members arranged for him to be moved out of the country for medical treatment,” one of the sources had said. 

“The COAS is a leader and most of the Major Generals are doing anyhow because they have no one to report to currently. Anybody can fall sick but someone needs to be in charge. I wish him a very quick recovery, I have known him since our days in Makurdi, Benue State. We were both young officers then and he was a captain.”

Lagbaja’s health has taken a turn for the worse, causing significant concern within the military, according to multiple sources who spoke to SaharaReporters.

SaharaReporters had reported that Tinubu promoted the Acting Chief of Army Staff, Olufemi Oluyede to the rank of Lieutenant General.

SaharaReporters learnt the ceremony was done at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, last Wednesday, President Tinubu appointed Major General Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), to stand in for Lagbaja.