By Abiola Olawale
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun has directed police personnel to wear a black band in honour of the immediate-past Nigerian Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja who passed away at the age of 56 years.
Egbetokun gave this directive in a circular signed by the Force spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi. Police operatives are expected to wear the black band for seven days.
The circular reads in part: “Following the demise of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has ordered officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force to wear black band throughout the 7 day mourning period.
“This directive is to pay tribute and honour the late General who has shown gallantry, dedication, and passion for fighting violent crimes and insurgency in Nigeria. He was a great leader who deserves to be honoured by all means.”
The New Diplomat reports that Lagbaja passed away in the late hours of Tuesday.
His demise was announced in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Onanuga said Lagbaja passed away in Lagos after a period of illness. Lagbaja, born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Osun State, was appointed by President Tinubu in June 2023, as the 27th Chief of Army.
He was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy in the year 1987 as a member of the 39th Regular Course. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant on 19 September 1992 into the Nigerian Infantry Corps. Between 1992 and 1995, Lagbaja was platoon commander of the 93 Battalion. From 1995 to 2001, he was platoon commander of 72 Special Forces Battalion. In 2001, Lagbaja obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Geography from the Nigerian Defence Academy. He also studied Strategic Studies at the US Army War College at the Master’s level.
He was an instructor at the Nigerian Defence Academy from 2001 to 2004. At a time, Lagbaja was a Grade 2 Staff Officer in charge of peacekeeping at the Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and Operations. Then, he was a Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, from 2006 to 2009.
In 2009, he became Deputy Chief of Staff G1 at Headquarters 81 Division, and subsequently, he became Commanding Officer at 72 Special Forces Battalion Makurdi from 2012 to 2013 and 2014 to 2015. In 2016, he was named the Chief of Staff at Headquarters 8 Task Force Division, Monguno. He served as Director of Operations at the Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and Operations from January to December 2018. He was a Commander of Headquarters 9 Brigade, Ikeja, Lagos State and Headquarters 2 Brigade, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Prior to his last appointment, Lagbaja was General Officer Commanding Headquarters 82 Division from March 2021 to August 2022 and Headquarters 1 Division from August 2022 to June 2023.
