LIKE all mortals, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, has exchanged mortality for immortality. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the death of the officer and gentleman who passed on at the age of 56. According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Lagbaja passed away on November 5, 2024, in Lagos during a brief illness.
Lagbaja was born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Osun State, Nigeria. His early years were spent in Osogbo. Lagbaja attended St. Charles Grammar School and the Local Authority Teachers College and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Geography from the Nigerian Defence Academy, while also bagging a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. In 1987, he was admitted to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) as part of the 39th Regular Course and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on September 19, 1992. In the course of his military career, Lagbaja was in charge of various positions which included Platoon Commander, Instructor at the NDA, and Commanding Officer of several battalions. In 2009, after rising through the ranks, he became a Lieutenant-General. In 2009, Lagbaja was named Deputy Chief of Staff at Headquarters 81 Division. His service also included a stint as Commanding Officer of the 72 Special Forces Battalion in Makurdi from 2012 to 2013 and again from 2014 to 2015.
Lagbaja was appointed Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2023, by President Tinubu, succeeding Lieutenant-General Faruk Yahaya. He participated in numerous military operations, including the ECOMOG mission in Liberia, Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, and various internal security operations across Nigeria. In the course of his ebullient military career, Lagbaja was a recipient of several awards for his meritorious service to the nation which reflected his dedication, industry and contributions to the Nigerian Army. At his passing, Lagbaja left behind his wife, Mariya Abiodun-Lagbaja, and two children.
We commiserate with the president, the Armed Forces and the government and people of Osun State on the passing of this gallant officer who was a gentleman in every sense of the word. At his passing, the deluge of tributes showcased his admirable attributes. These tributes were a testament to the fact that the officer did not allow the allure of office to becloud his humanity. He was said to have bonded strategically with officers and men under his command; he did not allow the epaulettes on his shoulders to serve as a weapon of intimidation and dehumanization. As commander of various theaters, Lagbaja was renowned for leading his men in active combat, a shining picture of a field officer who led by example and gave criminals no quarter. As army chief, Lagbaja habitually toured the various divisions of the force, bonding freely with officers and men, engaging in drills with them and reiterating the openness of his communication lines. He truly cared for the welfare of his officers and men, and the peace and security of Nigeria. He was truly a fine, unassuming officer.
We urge the officers and men of the Armed Forces not to allow their morale to be dampened by this huge loss. The COAS’ death is a reflection of the ephemerality of mortal life. Human life, however sterling, is still circumscribed by the possibility of death at any time, and that is why conscious pondering of actions and life’s course is always called for. Lagbaja’s 56 years on earth may be relatively short, but he packed into that short existence a very robust contribution to the progress of society and the uplift of humanity. He will be sorely missed.
It is reassuring that the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) declared that even while mourning, it remains “committed to winning the war against terrorism and keeping Nigerians safe.” As the DHQ said, the greatest tribute members of the Nigerian military can pay to Lagbaja’s memory is to rededicate themselves to the fight against insurgency, banditry and insecurity, evils that Lagbaja was known to have combated with every fibre of his being. It is by making Nigeria safe again that Lagbaja’s life of service to Nigeria can be said to have not been in vain. May his gallant soul rest in sweet repose.
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