By Dipo Olowookere
Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, has died at the age of 56, a statement from the presidency has confirmed.
The statement from the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, disclosed that the army chief “passed away on Tuesday night in Lagos after a period of illness.”
Recall that on June 19, 2023, President Bola Tinubu appointed the deceased, born on February 28, 1968, as the COAS.
His long absence in public functions sparked rumours about his health until the President appointed Major General Olufemi Oluyede as the acting COAS last week before promoting him to the rank of Lieutenant General on Tuesday.
In the statement on Wednesday by Mr Onanuga, President Tinubu expressed “his heartfelt condolences to the family and the Nigerian Armed Forces during this difficult time,” wishing Lt. General Lagbaja eternal peace and honours his significant contributions to the nation.
The late COAS began his military career in 1987 when he enrolled in the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), and on September 19, 1992, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps as a member of the 39th Regular Course.
Throughout his service, he was said to have demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment, serving as a platoon commander in the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion.
He played pivotal roles in numerous internal security operations, including Operation ZAKI in Benue State, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in Southeast Nigeria, and Operation Forest Sanity across Kaduna and Niger States.
An alumnus of the prestigious US Army War College, he earned a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies, demonstrating his dedication to professional growth and excellence in military leadership.