As it is written, it is appointed unto humans once to die. The sad news of the late Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja broke on Wednesday, 6th November as released by the Nigerian Government bringing the nation to the reality that he is no more and set in a state of mourning in Nigeria.
Since his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, on 19 June as the 23rd Chief of Army Staff in Abuja, he pledged to provide leadership to the Nigerian Army that would be driven by discipline, professionalism and to discharge his responsibilities with fairness to all.
In the over one year four months of his leadership as the Chief of Army Staff, General Lagbaja pursued with dedication his command philosophy “To Transform the Nigerian Army into a Well-trained, Equipped, and Highly Effective Force.”
With this philosophy, the dogged and fearless infantry General, went into action along with his field commanders, carrying on the over a decade fight against insecurity and taking the war to the enclaves of terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and all criminals and agents of destabilisation.
General Lagbaja was famous for his no nonsense approach and how he decimated bandits, cattle rustlers, and terrorists that operated within Kaduna, Niger, Kebbi, and other North West States as well as other flash points where his extensive training in land, airborne and amphibious warfare and a good grasp of the war against terrorism and insurgency, came handy for the security challenges he dealt with as Chief of Army Staff.
He embarked on several tours of formations and units, leading the troops at the frontlines, charging and motivating them to be unrelenting in the fight against all forms of insecurity until they are fully and effectively curbed.
In one of those trips to Mangu in Plateau State, he was captured on a famous video clip saying, “know that you must work and work effectively, we must see the results in Plateau, this violence must not resurge, and you must stamp it and stamp it out completely once and for all. Is that clear? Are you ready?” to which the troops echoed their readiness in battlefield mannerism “good to go Sir”. He went on charging them to keep to the pledge and demonstrate it in the battlefield. That was his leadership style.
General Lagbaja who succeeded General Faruk Yahaya had worked hand in hand with other service Chiefs in synergy to push the nation’s fight against insecurity under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa.
The announcement of his death preceded earlier news reports in October with some publications claiming he had died of cancer at an overseas hospital which was debunked by the Army Headquarters.
The Nigerian Government announced his death on Wednesday 6th of November, 2024. Born on February 28, 1968, General Lagbaja died on November 5, 2024 at the age of 56 years in Lagos, after a period of illness.
The Presidency said he had demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment through his distinguished career playing pivotal roles in numerous internal security operations and Multinational Joint Task Force operations and peacekeeping operations around the world.
Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja who died in active service left behind his beloved wife, Mariya Lagbaja and two children.
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