By Evelyn Usman

The somber mood was palpable at the Air Force wing of the Murtala Mohammed Air Port, Ikeja Lagos, today as the corpse of former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taireed Lagbaja, was brought from the morgue at about 9.25 am, to be flown to Abuja.

Present to bid the late Lagbaja farewell were: the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, white cap chiefs from the Oba of Lagos palace, senior officers from the Armed Forces, Police and paramilitary.

Also present at the airport to pay their last respect, were members of the Naval Officers Wives Association, NOWA and retired military generals.

The national anthem, sung by the Army band, echoed through the air as the pallbearers otherwise called escort officers who were high ranking military officers from the Army and Navy ,took position by the casket that was draped with the Nigeria national flag on which were his boots and cap, for the procession March.

Thereafter, the military funeral procession, began in a slow March, with the military band playing somber music.

The Deputy Governor and senior officers from different security agencies present, followed closely behind the escort officers until the casket reached the NAF 198 C130 aircraft stairs, from where the casket was carried by a honor guards, composed of soldiers , into the aircraft that will transport the remains the late General to Abuja.

As the NAF 198 aircraft took off, a salute from over 140 men on parade was echoed as a fitting tribute to their former boss.