CITIZENS COMPASS – The Nigerian Army(NA) has on Sunday, dismissed the rumour making the round that its Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has died.
NA via its official X handle, @HQNigerianArmy, dismissed an online report that circulated on Sunday, stating, “Chief of Army Staff dies of cancer.”
It read, “The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has died. Lagbaja died in an undisclosed hospital overseas nearly 48hrs ago from a stage three Cancer, according to a senior Government official.
“The death of the Chief of Army staff has been kept secret because of intense lobbying by some Generals who want to take the position.
“Lagbaja, born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Osun State, was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023, as the 27th Chief of Army Staff.
“The report claimed that Lt. Gen. Lagbaja passed away in an undisclosed hospital overseas nearly 48 hours ago due to stage three cancer, according to a senior government official.
Furthermore, the report alleged that the news of the Chief of Army Staff’s death had been kept secret due to intense lobbying by some Army Generals seeking to assume his position.
“Lt. Gen. Lagbaja, born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Osun State, was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023 as the 27th Chief of Army Staff. The Army Headquarters continues to assert the importance of accurate information and has urged the public to disregard any unverified reports regarding the health or status of its leadership.”
Also reacting, Special Adviser Information and Strategy to President Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga via his X Platform dismissed the alleged death of Lagbaja.
He said: “Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu has dismissed fake reports about the chief of army staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja.
“To be very clear, the Nigerian Army is a highly structured establishment with well-laid-out procedures and processes for dealing with different circumstances. Before proceeding on leave, necessary protocols were put in place for the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim, to act on behalf of the COAS while he is away,”.
