ABUJA, Nov 6: Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, passed away on Tuesday night in Lagos after an illness, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced on Wednesday. Lagbaja, 56, had served as a senior military leader with a distinguished career marked by decades of dedicated service.
Lt. General Lagbaja, born on February 28, 1968, was appointed Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2023, by President Tinubu. His military career began at the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1987, and he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps on September 19, 1992, as a member of the 39th Regular Course. Over his 30-year service, he held various critical roles and demonstrated exceptional leadership.
He served as a platoon commander in the 93 Battalion and later in the 72 Special Forces Battalion. Lt. General Lagbaja also played key roles in numerous internal security operations across Nigeria, including Operation ZAKI in Benue State, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in Southeast Nigeria, and Operation Forest Sanity, which addressed security challenges in Kaduna and Niger States.
An alumnus of the U.S. Army War College, Lt. General Lagbaja held a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies, reflecting his commitment to professional development and strategic military leadership.
He is survived by his wife, Mariya, and their two children.
President Tinubu extended his condolences to the family and the Nigerian Armed Forces, lauding Lagbaja’s contributions to national security and expressing the nation’s sorrow at his passing.
The President paid tribute to the late general, saying, “Lt. General Lagbaja served Nigeria with honour and courage. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”
