COAS Lagbaja Not Dead, Enjoying Annual Vacation Abroad – Nigerian Army

By Ayodele Oni

The Nigerian Army has clarified that the Chief of Army Staff,  Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja is alive, urging the public to disregard  news of his death.

Social media reports on Sunday had claimed that Lagbaja died in an undisclosed hospital overseas nearly 48hrs ago from a stage three Cancer, according to a senior Government official.

The report added that “The death of the Chief of Army staff has been kept secret because of intense lobbying by some Generals who want to take the position.”

A statement  titled “Nigerian Army Operational and Administrative Activities on Course, Contrary to Insinuations in the Media Space,” the Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu dismissed the reports as a baseless rumour aimed at causing tension and confusion among military personnel and the general public.

“Against rumours making the rounds on various media outlets on the purported death of Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, Nigerians are advised to disregard such ill-fated and unverified reports.

“It is true that the COAS has traveled overseas but that for his annual leave and routine medical checkup. Before he left he handed over responsibility to his subordinate as required by law.”

Confirming that the COAS fulfilled all legal processes required by law before proceeding on leave, Major General Nwachukwu maintained that “To be very clear, the Nigerian Army is a highly structured establishment with well-laid-out procedures and processes for dealing with different circumstances.

“Before proceeding on leave, necessary protocols were put in place for the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim, to act on behalf of the COAS while he is away.

“It is rather very disappointing that some individuals who neither have a knowledge of his current situation nor access to any of his family members will rush to social media to announce the death of a man in very stable health.

“Clearly, this is the handwork of mischief makers and detractors bent on rubbishing his fight against terrorism and pushing him off the ladder but to their utter shame, he will surely return at the expiration of his leave to the saddle of command.

“As a detribalized Nigerian, the COAS has remained focused on fighting insurgency in the North, militancy and oil-bunkering in the Niger Delta, secessionists attempt by the IPOB now championed by the unknown gunmen in the South East, farmers-herders conflict in the Middle Belt and all terror related acts across the nation.

“His all-round approach to fighting crime and reaching every affected region of Nigeria has distinguished him amongst others.

“His unbiased appointments and redeployment of Major Generals, and Brigadier Generals amongst several other senior officers across NA formations and units in the country and recent personnel postings, promotions and training activities further cements his integrity and love for national unity and cohesion.

“The best Nigerians can do at this point for a warlord, who at sundry times has placed his life on the line in the interest of national security, is to ignore the baseless rumours and pray that he enjoys his vacation and return in renewed strength to continue his good works for our dear native land.

“The Chief of Army Staff is alive and active to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu.”