President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the passing of Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, who died at age 56.
The announcement, conveyed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, comes as a solemn moment for Nigeria and its armed forces.
Lt. General Lagbaja, born on February 28, 1968, was appointed as Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2023. He embarked on his military career in 1987, joining the Nigerian Defence Academy and later being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps in 1992.
His career was marked by leadership in critical security operations across the nation, including Operation ZAKI in Benue, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in the Southeast, and Operation Forest Sanity across Kaduna and Niger States.
A distinguished alumnus of the U.S. Army War College with a Master’s in Strategic Studies, Lagbaja demonstrated a deep commitment to professional growth and military excellence. He is survived by his wife, Mariya, and their two children.
President Tinubu extended his condolences to Lt. General Lagbaja’s family and the Nigerian Armed Forces, honoring his dedication to national security and wishing him eternal peace.