By Abiola Olawale
The Nigerian Army has vehemently dismissed reports claiming that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has passed away.
The army, in a statement posted on its official X handle, described the reports as fake news.
It would be recalled that on Sunday rumours emerged that Lagbaja purportedly passed away in an undisclosed hospital overseas nearly 48 hours ago due to stage three cancer.
Furthermore, the report alleged that the news of the Chief of Army Staff’s death had been kept secret due to intense lobbying by some Army Generals seeking to assume his position.
However, the Army has debunked the reports, urging the public to disregard any unverified reports regarding the health or status of its leadership.
Similarly, the Special Adviser Information and Strategy to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, via his X Platform, dismissed the alleged death of Lagbaja.
He said: “Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu has dismissed fake reports about the chief of army staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja.
“To be very clear, the Nigerian Army is a highly structured establishment with well-laid-out procedures and processes for dealing with different circumstances. Before proceeding on leave, necessary protocols were put in place for the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim, to act on behalf of the COAS while he is away.”
It would also be recalled that the Nigerian Army, on Sunday, declared that Lagbaja is on leave and that he is receiving treatment over an undisclosed illness.
Disclosing this development, the Army spokesman, Onyema Nwachukwu, said there is a laid down process that ensures no vacuum in the leadership structure.
Nwachukwu said the Army Chief of Policy and Plans, Major General Abdulsalami Ibrahim, is already acting on behalf of the COAS during his absence.
Lagbaja, born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Osun State, was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023, as the 27th Chief of Army.
