Tragic Loss: Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Lagbaja, Dies at 56

Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Lagbaja, Dies at 56

Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, has passed away at the age of 56.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, expressed deep sorrow over his death.

A statement from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy), confirmed the tragic news. Lagbaja died Tuesday night in Lagos after battling an illness.

Born on February 28, 1968, Lt. General Lagbaja’s military journey began in 1987 when he enrolled in the Nigerian Defence Academy.

He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps on September 19, 1992, as part of the 39th Regular Course.

Lagbaja rose through the ranks, serving as a platoon commander in both the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion.

His leadership stood out in major operations like Operation ZAKI in Benue State, Lafiya Dole in Borno, and Operation Forest Sanity across Kaduna and Niger States.

He earned a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, underscoring his commitment to professional growth and military excellence.

Lt. General Lagbaja is survived by his wife Mariya and their two children.

President Tinubu conveyed his condolences to the family and the Nigerian armed forces. He praised Lagbaja’s service to the nation and wished him eternal peace.