By: Kingsley Omonobi

The Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, has paid a condolence visit to Mrs. Mariya Lagbaja and other family members of the late Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, Nigeria’s 23rd Chief of Army Staff, who passed away on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, after a brief illness.

Gen. Oluyede visited the family on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at the Flag Staff House, Niger Barracks in Abuja, accompanied by Principal Staff Officers of the Army Headquarters, Corps Commanders, and General Officers Commanding of the Nigerian Army.

Paying tribute to the late COAS, Gen. Oluyede praised his gallantry, dedication, and the lasting impact of his service to the Nigerian Army and the Armed Forces.

In the condolence register opened in honor of Lt. Gen. Lagbaja, the Acting COAS wrote, “It is with a huge sense of loss, albeit responsibility, that I, on behalf of the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, commiserate with Mrs. Mariya Lagbaja, the children, and the entire Lagbaja family over the passing of our dogged, gallant, and extremely dedicated leader, Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja (Nigerian Army Medal), the Chief of Army Staff. Lt. Gen. Lagbaja, without doubt, gave his all to the service of our dear nation. This was evident in his dedication to duty and the legacies he has left behind. We only take solace in the fact that we cannot, in any way, query the Almighty. We surely owe him a whole lot. Rest in peace, our leader and hero. You will surely be missed.”

The late Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja was appointed Chief of Army Staff by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on June 19, 2023, and formally assumed command on June 23, 2023.

A seasoned Infantry officer, General Lagbaja was commissioned in 1992 as a member of the 39th Regular Combatant Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna. He was widely recognized as a Special Forces Commander and an exemplary military leader who held numerous significant appointments throughout his career.

General Lagbaja served as General Officer Commanding of both the 82 and 1 Divisions of the Nigerian Army in Enugu and Kaduna, respectively. He also commanded the 9 Brigade in Ikeja, 2 Brigade in Uyo, and 72 Special Forces Battalion in two separate tours of duty.

Before his appointment as the Chief of Army Staff, he was the Chief of Operations (Army), where he coordinated all operational activities of the Nigerian Army. During his tenure as COAS, he worked tirelessly to address terrorism, banditry, and other security challenges across the nation.