By Kolawole Ojebisi
The body of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja has arrived at the Nigerian Airforce wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The body which was received by soldiers of the Guards Brigade who are set to pay their last respects to Lagbaja, arrived at exactly 9 am.
The white casket conveying the remains of the deceased general was colourfully draped with the national flag.
This marks the beginning of the final interment of the late COAS who died of an undisclosed ailment days ago.
Recall that the army, had on Wednesday, released a two-day burial rites for the late Lagbaja
The burial arrangements were contained in a state issued by the Nigerian Army headquarters, through its
spokesman, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, in the early hours of Wednesday.
According to the release, the service of songs for the late CAOS will be held between 5 pm and 7 pm on Thursday at the army headquarters, garrison parade ground, Mogadishu cantonment, Abuja.
The post added that the funeral service will be held between 10 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. on Friday at the National Christian Centre in the central business district (CBD), Abuja.
The final internment will follow at the National Military Cemetery between 2 pm and 6 pm on Friday, respectively.
The arrangements have shown that the remains of the deceased would not be taken to his hometown, Ilobu, for interment, as demanded by his family head.
Lagbaja died at age 56 having risen to the highest echelons of the Nigeria Army.
He was appointed COAS by President Bola Tinubu on June 19, 2023.
