President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has confirmed the death of Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, at the age of 56. The news was made public in a statement by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, early Wednesday.
Lt. General Lagbaja passed away on Tuesday night in Lagos after a period of illness. His death marks a profound loss for the Nigerian military.
Born on February 28, 1968, Lagbaja was appointed Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2023, by President Tinubu. His military career began in 1987 when he joined the Nigerian Defence Academy. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps in 1992, serving in various leadership roles, including platoon commander in the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion.
Throughout his career, Lagbaja played key roles in national security operations, including Operation ZAKI in Benue State, Operation Lafiya Dole in Borno, and Operation Forest Sanity in Kaduna and Niger States.
An alumnus of the U.S. Army War College, Lagbaja earned a Master’s in Strategic Studies, cementing his reputation as a committed and skilled military leader.
Lt. General Lagbaja leaves behind his wife, Mariya, and their two children. President Tinubu has expressed his deepest condolences to the family and the Nigerian Armed Forces, praising the late general’s dedication to the country’s defense.
