Emma Sunday
Nigeria’s Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, has been confirmed dead.
A statement released on Wednesday by the Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced that Lagbaja died on Tuesday night in Lagos at age 56, after a protracted illness.
In the statement, President Bola Tinubu expressed his condolences to the Lagbaja’s family and the Nigerian Armed Forces during this difficult time.
The president wished Lagbaja eternal peace and honours his significant contributions to the nation.
To honour the late Army Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, ordered the postponement of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting initially scheduled for today (Wednesday) till another date to be announced.
General Lagbaja served as the Chief of Army Staff from June 19, 2023, till his death on November 5, 2024.
President Tinubu also ordered flags to be flown at half-staff nationwide for seven days in honour of the departed general.