Acting COAS Lauds Late General Lagbaja’s selfless service, Condoles Family

Nigeria’s Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Olatubosun Oluyede, has described his late predecessor, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja as a selfless, passionate and dedicated officer who gave his all to the country.

Oluyede stated this on Wednesday while speaking on the demise of the late army chief at the State House, Abuja.

He said Lt. Lagbaja should be celebrated for his service to the nation.

“It’s highly regrettable. I mean the country as a whole under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, did the very best for him to be alive with us today. But as we all know, we all belong to God and He takes when He feels necessary for him to do so.

“So it’s on a very sober note that I am talking this moment because the entire Nigeria Army is actually in a sorrowful mood because we have lost our leader, Lt. Gen. Lagbaja.

“He was someone who gave his all to Nigeria. He was a selfless leader, very passionate about Nigeria and he led the Nigeria Army very well. He was courageous, he was known to be thorough and a professional to the core. So, it’s a big loss for us. And all we can say at this moment is that we pray that the good Lord will find a place for him to rest.

“Then I want to enjoin Nigerians, for someone that has given his all for Nigeria, we need to celebrate him. So I want Nigerians to actually celebrate him for the good work he did,” General Oluyede said.

The Acting Chief of Army Staff appreciated the Nigerian Leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his wife, the First Lady for their support for the Nigerian Army and the family of the late Lt. General Lagbaja.

Lieutenant General Oluyede also paid a condolence visit to Mrs. Mariya Lagbaja and other family members of the late Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.

A statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu said General Oluyede paid the condolence on Wednesday 6 November 2024, at the Flag Staff House, Niger Barracks Abuja.

He was 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, General Oluyede extolled his gallantry, dedication, and legacies throughout his service years in the Nigerian Army and the Armed Forces of Nigeria in general.

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In a succinct message penned in the condolence register opened in honour of the late COAS, the Acting COAS stated, “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 clan over the passing of our dogged, gallant and extremely dedicated leader Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja (Nigerian Army Medal) the Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army.

“Lieutenant General 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 had left behind. We only take solace in the fact that we cannot in any way querry the Almighty. We surely owe him a whole lot. Rest in peace, our leader and hero. You will surely be missed.”

It would be recalled that the Late Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja was on 19 June 2023 appointed Chief of Army Staff by President Tinubu, and fully assumed command of the Nigerian Army as the 23rd COAS on 23 June 2023.

Before he assumed command of the Nigerian Army as the 23rd Chief of Army Staff, he was the Chief of Operations (Army), where he coordinated all the operational activities of the Nigerian Army.
As the then Chief of Army Staff, he worked assiduously to defeat terrorism, banditry, and other security challenges experienced across the nation.
General Lagbaja passed away on Tuesday 5th November 2024 after a brief illness.