Nigeria is in mourning following the loss of its Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, who passed away on Tuesday in Lagos after a brief illness. His death, occurring less than a year after his appointment by President Bola Tinubu, deals a significant blow to the nation’s military leadership. Here are 15 important facts about the late COAS that you should know:
1. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja was born on 28 February 1968 in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria
2. Lagbaja was an alumnus of the U.S. Army War College and was a Nigerian Army lieutenant general
3. He was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1992. Lagbaja was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy as part of the 39th Regular Course in 1987
4. He was appointed Chief Of Army Staff on June 19, 2023
5. Prior to his appointment, he served as a platoon commander in the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion.
6. He played pivotal 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.
7. He served as the Chief of Army Staff of Nigeria from June 2023 to November 2024
8. He was appointed on 19 June 2023 by President Bola Tinubu to succeed Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya.
9. He was an instructor at the Nigerian Defence Academy from 2001 to 2004
10. He had served only 505 days in the office before he passed
11. He died on November 5, 2024 at age 56 after an illness
12. He constantly visited conflict zones to demonstrate commitment and foster morale among the soldiers
13. Lagbaja also prioritised the welfare of his troops. For instance, heincreased the Ration Cash Allowance, ensured prompt payment of medical evacuation allowances for wounded soldiers undergoing treatment both locally and internationally, among many others
14. General Lagbaja brought to life a long-envisioned goal of the Nigerian Army to have an aviation wing within the service to provide essential air support for ground operations.
15. Under his leadership, the army was credited with the elimination of over 300 terrorist commanders, while many other militants surrendered to government forces.
