Final Salute: Late Chief of Army Staff, Lagbaja, to be Laid to Rest in Abuja
By Matthew Eloyi
The late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, who passed away on November 5 at the age of 56, will be honoured with a two-day funeral in Abuja.
According to an announcement by Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General OO Oluyode, the Nigerian Army will host a service of songs on Thursday at the Army Headquarters’ Garrison Parade Ground, Mogadishu Cantonment, in Abuja, followed by a funeral service at the National Christian Centre on Friday.
Lagbaja, who served as COAS for a year and four months, succumbed to illness in Lagos, as confirmed by President Bola Tinubu’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga.
He is the second Chief of Army Staff to die in office within three years, following the untimely passing of Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru in 2021.
Born on February 28, 1968, Lagbaja began his military journey at the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1987 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry Corps in 1992.
He served as a platoon commander and led numerous security operations, including Operation ZAKI in Benue, Lafiya Dole in Borno, and Forest Sanity in Kaduna and Niger States.
An alumnus of the U.S. Army War College with a Master’s in Strategic Studies, Lagbaja’s military career was marked by dedication and strategic expertise.
He is survived by his wife, Mariya, and their two children, who will join family, friends, and colleagues in paying their final respects this week.