The Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has paid a condolence visit to Mrs Mariya Lagbaja, the widow of the late army chief, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.
Lagbaja passed away on Tuesday night in Lagos following a brief illness at the age of 56.
A day after his death, Oluyede led a delegation of senior military officers to offer condolences to the Lagbaja family.
This was revealed in a statement on Wednesday by the Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu.
Oluyede, accompanied by Principal Staff Officers of Army Headquarters, Corps Commanders, and General Officers Commanding of the Nigerian Army, visited the Flag Staff House at Niger Barracks in Abuja, the official residence of the COAS.
The acting COAS praised Lagbaja’s bravery, dedication, and the legacy he left during his years of service in the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Armed Forces.
“It is with a profound sense of loss, yet responsibility, that I, on behalf of the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, extend our deepest sympathies to Mrs Mariya Lagbaja, the children, and the entire Lagbaja family on the passing of our steadfast, brave, and deeply dedicated leader, Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja (Nigerian Army Medal), the Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army,” he said.
Oluyede acknowledged that Lagbaja gave his utmost to the nation’s service.
“We can only find solace in the understanding that we cannot question the Almighty. We owe him a great deal. Rest in peace, our leader and hero. You will be sorely missed,” he remarked.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier announced the passing of the Chief of Army Staff.
Born on 28 February 1968, Lagbaja served as Chief of Army Staff for one year and four months following his appointment by President Tinubu in June 2023.
Lagbaja’s military career began when he enrolled at the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1987. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps on 19 September 1992 as a member of the 39th Regular Course.
Lieutenant General Lagbaja also served as a platoon commander in the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion.
He played vital roles in numerous internal security operations, including Operation ZAKI in Benue State, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in Southeast Nigeria, and Operation Forest Sanity across Kaduna and Niger States.
An alumnus of the prestigious U.S. Army War College, he held a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies, showcasing his commitment to professional development and excellence in military leadership.
Lieutenant General Lagbaja is survived by his wife, Mariya, and their two children.
