Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja |
On Sunday, the Nigerian Army dismissed viral reports claiming that Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, had passed away. The false reports stemmed from a social media post by a Nigerian journalist, who claimed Lagbaja died 48 hours earlier in a foreign hospital due to stage-three cancer.
The post, which quickly gained traction, stated that the Army Chief’s death was being kept secret due to internal lobbying for his position. The journalist alleged, “Lagbaja died nearly 48 hours ago from cancer, and some Generals are intensely lobbying for his position.”
In response, the Nigerian Army took to X (formerly Twitter) to label the reports as fake news, urging the public to disregard the misinformation.
However, sources within the Army Headquarters confirmed that Lt. Gen. Lagbaja is critically ill and receiving treatment abroad. A source said, “The COAS is not dead; he is critically ill and needs prayers during this difficult time. Such rumors are harmful and misleading.”
Despite the Army’s denial of his death, concerns remain as the Director of Army Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, was unreachable, with his phone switched off and no response to messages.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army formally retired 15 senior officers from its ranks over the weekend. These officers, who served in the Artillery Corps, included 11 Major Generals and 4 Brigadier Generals. The retirement ceremony was held at the Nigerian Army School of Artillery in Kachia, Kaduna State.
During the event, Maj. Gen. James Myam (retd) delivered a farewell address on behalf of the retired officers. He expressed gratitude for their years of service, attributing their successful careers to divine grace and thanking President Bola Tinubu for the opportunity to serve.
Reflecting on their long journeys, Myam urged serving officers to remain loyal to the constitution and the democratically elected government, stressing the importance of vigilance and dedication to duty.
The ceremony was attended by both retired and active military officers, including former Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Alwali Kazir (retd).
As the Nigerian Army navigates these leadership transitions, the focus remains on the health and well-being of Lt. Gen. Lagbaja, with prayers for his recovery and continued leadership.
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