The late Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, will be buried on Thursday and Friday, following his passing on November 5 at the age of 56.
In a statement released by the Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General OO Oluyode, the Nigerian Army announced that a service of songs will be held at the Army Headquarters’ garrison parade ground in Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja, on Thursday. This will be followed by a funeral service at the National Christian Centre in Abuja on Friday.
Lagbaja’s death was confirmed by President Bola Tinubu’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, who noted that he passed away in Lagos after a period of illness. He is the second Chief of Army Staff to die in office in the last three years, following the death of Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru shortly after his appointment in 2021.
Born on February 28, 1968, Lagbaja served as Chief of Army Staff for one year and four months after his appointment by President Tinubu in June 2023. He began his military career in 1987 at the Nigerian Defence Academy 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, Lt. Gen. Lagbaja held various significant positions, including serving as a platoon commander in the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion. He played crucial roles in several internal security operations, such as 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 U.S. Army War College, he earned a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies, highlighting his commitment to professional development in military leadership.
Lt. General Lagbaja is survived by his wife, Mariya, and their two children.
