PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has appointed Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff.
This information was revealed in a statement today by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga.
Oluyede will serve in this role until the return of Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, who is currently unwell and undergoing treatment abroad.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has appointed Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS),” the statement said.
“Oluyede will fulfill this role pending the return of the substantive Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, who is indisposed.”
Before this appointment, Oluyede was the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, located in Jaji, Kaduna.
The 56-year-old Oluyede and Lagbaja were coursemates in the 39th Regular Course.
He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1992, retroactive to 1987, and achieved the rank of Major General in September 2020.
Throughout his career, Oluyede has held numerous commanding positions, including Platoon Commander and adjutant at 65 Battalion, Company Commander at 177 Guards Battalion, Staff Officer for the Guards Brigade, and Commandant of the Amphibious Training School.
General Oluyede has participated in various operations, such as the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Mission in Liberia, Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, and Operation HADIN KAI in the North East, where he commanded the 27 Task Force Brigade.
He has received several honors for his outstanding service across various operations, including the Corps Medal of Honour, the Grand Service Star, and membership in the National Institute.
Death Rumors
Recently, reports surfaced following claims from former presidential aide and social media commentator Jackson Ude, stating that Lagbaja had passed away from cancer.
Ude’s post claimed, “The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has died. Lagbaja passed away in an undisclosed hospital overseas nearly 48 hours ago from stage three cancer, according to a senior government official.”
The post also alleged that the announcement of his death was being withheld due to lobbying by some generals seeking the position.
Lt. General Taoreed 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.
In response to these claims, the army authorities debunked the rumors on October 20, labeling them as false.
Army spokesman Onyema Nwachukwu clarified that Lagbaja is on official leave and that procedures are in place for Major General Abdulsalami Ibrahim, the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), to act in his absence.
Nwachukwu, a major general, stressed that Lagbaja’s absence has not disrupted army operations.
“There have even been insinuations of a leadership vacuum, causing confusion among officers. This is far from the truth,” he stated.
“To clarify, the Nigerian Army is a highly structured organization with established procedures for handling various situations. Protocols were implemented for Major General Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim to fulfill the COAS’s responsibilities while he is away.
“This situation is not unique to the Nigerian Army, as there have been instances where unforeseen circumstances have led service chiefs to be absent for up to three months, with their Chiefs of Policy and Plans managing in the interim. Claims of a leadership vacuum are mere speculation, and all routine and scheduled activities are proceeding as planned,” he explained.
The army spokesman added that all scheduled activities are on track and that departmental chiefs are fully executing their responsibilities in accordance with the directives of the COAS.
DHQ Refutes Death Rumors
Similarly, the Defence Headquarters confirmed that no acting Chief of Army Staff has been appointed to replace Taoreed Lagbaja, who is reportedly on annual leave.
Defence spokesman Tukur Gusau issued a statement on October 21, cautioning against calls for a military coup, which he characterized as a treasonable offense under the law.
“The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) wishes to clarify that it has not announced any senior officer as the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), contrary to certain media reports. For the record, no such appointment exists within the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN).
“The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, is currently on well-deserved rest as part of his 2024 annual leave. The AFN is professionally managed, and all Service Chiefs are performing their duties as dictated by the Constitution of the Federal Government. Major General Abdulsalam Bagudu Ibrahim, the Chief of Policy and Plans, is providing routine briefs to the COAS as per standard military procedures.”
Gusau, a Brigadier General, called on those spreading unwarranted rumors to cease immediately.
He reassured that Lagbaja is in good health and will return to his duties at the conclusion of his leave.
