The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, has been declared dead.
Omable African News gathered that Lagbaja passed on Tuesday night at age 56.
In a release issued on Wednesday by the Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Army Chief died in Lagos after a protracted illness.
In the statement, President Bola Tinubu expressed his condolences to the family and the Nigerian Armed Forces during this difficult time.
He wished Lagbaja eternal peace and honours his significant contributions to the nation.
Lagbaja is survived by his beloved wife, Mariya, and their two children.
He was born on February 28, 1968, and appointed Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2023 by President Tinubu.
His military career began when he enrolled in the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1987. On September 19, 1992, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps as a member of the 39th Regular Course.
Lagbaja throughout his service demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment, serving as a platoon commander in the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion.
He played pivotal roles in numerous internal security operations, including Operation ZAKI in Benue State, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in South-east Nigeria, and Operation Forest Sanity across Kaduna and Niger States.