The lieutenant general died in Lagos following a brief illness, according to a statement released by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga on Wednesday morning.
“He passed away on Tuesday night in Lagos after a period of illness. President Tinubu extends his heartfelt condolences to the family and the Nigerian Armed Forces during this difficult time. He also prays for eternal peace for Lt. General Lagbaja and honors his significant contributions to the nation,” Onanuga wrote.
Lagbaja was the subject of death rumors two weeks ago, which were swiftly denied by the Defence Headquarters, stating that he was on leave.
A week after the rumors, PREMIUM TIMES reported that President Bola Tinubu had appointed Major General Olufemi Oluyede as acting Chief of Army Staff.
On Tuesday, Oluyede was promoted to lieutenant general, signaling his potential appointment as the new substantive army chief.
Background of Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja
Taoreed Lagbaja was appointed Chief of Army Staff by President Tinubu on June 19, 2023. Born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Osun State, he grew up in Osogbo, where he attended St. Charles Grammar School and Local Authority Teachers College.
He enrolled in the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in 1987 as a member of the 39th Regular Course and was commissioned as a second lieutenant on September 19, 1992, into the Nigerian Infantry Corps.
Between 1992 and 1995, Lagbaja served as platoon commander of the 93 Battalion, later becoming platoon commander of the 72 Special Forces Battalion from 1995 to 2001. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Geography from the NDA in 2001 and later studied Strategic Studies at the US Army War College.
Lagbaja held several military roles, including instructor at the NDA, staff officer at the Army Headquarters, and Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College.
He went on to hold senior positions such as Deputy Chief of Staff G1 at Headquarters 81 Division and Commanding Officer of the 72 Special Forces Battalion, Makurdi.
In 2016, he was appointed Chief of Staff at the 8 Task Force Division, Monguno, and held other significant roles, including Commander of the 9 Brigade, Ikeja, and the 2 Brigade, Uyo.
Before his appointment as Army Chief, Lagbaja served as General Officer Commanding Headquarters 82 Division and 1 Division.
He had a distinguished career, participating in multiple military operations, including Operation HARMONY IV, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, and Operation FOREST SANITY.
He attained the rank of lieutenant general in September 2019. Lagbaja is survived by his wife, Mariya Abiodun-Lagbaja, and their two children.
Lagbaja is not the first army chief to die in office. In 2021, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, the then Chief of Army Staff, died in a plane crash along with 10 other military officers and crew members.
