Kehinde Fajobi
The late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, will be laid to rest over two days, with services held in Abuja on Thursday and Friday.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Acting Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. OO Oluyode confirmed that a service of songs will take place at the Army headquarters’ garrison parade ground in Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja, on Thursday.
A funeral service will follow on Friday at the National Christian Centre, also in Abuja.
Lagbaja, who passed away on November 5 at the age of 56, served as Chief of Army Staff for one year and four months. He was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023.
President Tinubu’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, announced that Lagbaja died in Lagos after an illness.
His passing marks the second time a Nigerian Chief of Army Staff has died in office in the last three years, following Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru’s death in 2021.
Lt. Gen. Lagbaja was born on February 28, 1968. He began his military career at the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1987 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps on September 19, 1992, as part of the 39th Regular Course.
Throughout his career, Lagbaja held various command roles, including as a platoon commander in the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion.
He was actively involved in critical internal security operations such as Operation ZAKI in Benue State, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in the Southeast, and Operation Forest Sanity across Kaduna and Niger States.
A graduate of the U.S. Army War College, Lagbaja held a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies, showcasing his commitment to military excellence.
He is survived by his wife, Mariya, and their two children.