Following a brief illness, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, tragically died Tuesday night in Lagos. The 56-year-old military chief, who was only appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last year, was renowned for his outstanding leadership and commitment to maintaining Nigeria’s security.
Having been born on February 28, 1968, Lt. General Lagbaja began his military career in 1987 by enrolling at the Nigerian Defense Academy. When he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps in 1992, his professional career began. From there, he rose through the ranks swiftly and gained recognition for his valor and commitment while serving on the front lines of multiple important security missions.
In order to protect Nigerian villages, Lagbaja actively participated in a number of significant missions. Both his fellow soldiers and the general public respected and admired him for his contributions to internal security operations such as Operation ZAKI in Benue State, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in the Southeast, and Operation Forest Sanity in Kaduna and Niger States.
He was a graduate of the U.S. Army War College with a Master’s in Strategic Studies, demonstrating his dedication to strategic military knowledge.
Along with his two kids, Lt. Gen. Lagbaja leaves behind his cherished wife, Mariya. President Tinubu has honored Lt. Gen. Lagbaja’s outstanding achievements to the security of the country and sent his sincere condolences to his family and the Nigerian Armed Forces.
As the nation copes with this unexpected loss, Lt. Gen. Lagbaja’s leadership, bravery, and service continue to live on.
