Nigeria’s Army Chief, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, has passed away at the age of 56 following an illness, as announced by President Bola Tinubu.
Lt Gen Lagbaja died Tuesday night in Lagos, though details about his illness were not disclosed. In a statement posted by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu extended his “heartfelt condolences” to Gen Lagbaja’s family and paid tribute to his “significant contributions to the nation,” wishing him “eternal peace.”
Gen Lagbaja’s death is seen as a major loss for the Nigerian Armed Forces. Known for his involvement in multiple internal security operations, he held the position of Chief of Army Staff, the highest rank in the Nigerian army, since his appointment in June 2023, shortly after President Tinubu assumed office.
His illness had taken him away from duty frequently, sometimes requiring treatment abroad. During his tenure, Nigeria experienced an increase in attacks from the Islamist Boko Haram group and incidents of kidnappings, especially in the northern and central regions. One of the notable incidents included the mass abduction of over 280 children in Kuriga earlier this year.
Previously, Gen Lagbaja led a task force combatting the Boko Haram insurgency in Maiduguri under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. Despite ongoing security challenges, he consistently affirmed the military’s commitment to democracy, emphasizing, “We are agents of democracy and have no desire to truncate it,” especially amid military coups in nearby countries.
In 2003, he served in a United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. His early career began after attending teachers’ college in Osogbo and later enrolling in the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1987. He furthered his education, earning an MSc in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College in Pennsylvania.
Gen Lagbaja is survived by his wife, Mariya, and their two children.
