By Ayomide Otitoju
The Nigerian Army has announced the funeral arrangements for the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, who passed away on November 5 at the age of 56. According to a statement released Wednesday by Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General OO Oluyode, a service of songs will take place on Thursday at the Army Headquarters Garrison Parade Ground in Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja. This will be followed by a funeral service at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, on Friday.
Lagbaja, who died in Lagos following an illness, had served as Chief of Army Staff for one year and four months, having been appointed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023. His passing marks the second time in three years that a sitting Chief of Army Staff has died in office, following the 2021 death of Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru.
Born on February 28, 1968, Lagbaja joined the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1987 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry Corps in 1992. Over his career, he held key roles, including platoon commander positions in the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion, and led operations such as Operation ZAKI in Benue State, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in the Southeast, and Forest Sanity in Kaduna and Niger States. He was an alumnus of the U.S. Army War College, holding a Master’s in Strategic Studies, a testament to his dedication to military excellence.
Lt. General Lagbaja is survived by his wife, Mariya, and their two children.
