October 21, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Army Headquarters (AHQ), has refuted reports that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, has died.
Earlier reports on social media, indicated that CoAS Lagbaja had died of cancer.
“The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has died. Lagbaja died in an undisclosed hospital overseas, nearly 48hrs ago, from a stage three Cancer, according to a senior Government official. The death of the Chief of Army staff has been kept secret because of intense lobbying by some Generals, who want to take the position”, a viral post credited to one Jackson Ude, a former Director of Strategy and Communication to former President Goodluck Jonathan Reads.
The Army in a swift response to the post, described the death rumour as fake news.
Earlier, the Director of the Army Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement titled “Nigerian Army Operational and Administrative Activities on Course, Contrary to Insinuations in the Media Space”, admitted that the COAS travelled for a medical check up abroad. He further clarified that, before proceeding on leave, General Lagbaja followed due protocols by appointing the Chief of Policy and Plans, Major General Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim, to act on his behalf.
The statement reads in part: “Recently, the media space, especially social media, has been awash with stories, rumours, and innuendoes about happenings in the Nigerian Army (NA).
“This is not peculiar to the Nigerian Army as there have been instances where unforeseen human frailty kept service chiefs away for about three months, and their Chiefs of Policy and Plans held sway in their absence.
“While some of these are laughable and deserve no further reference, others have bordered on pure mischief calculated to cause panic and confusion within the rank and file, as well as the general public.
“Specifically, many insinuations about personnel postings, promotions, and even training activities have been raised vis-a-vis the official leave of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
“There have even been insinuations that there is a leadership vacuum, with officers confused about what to do. Nothing can be farther from the truth.
“To be very clear, the Nigerian Army is a highly structured establishment with well-laid-out procedures and processes for dealing with different circumstances.
“Despite Lagbaja’s absence, the Nigerian Army has continued to conduct its operations and administrative activities without disruption. The Army Headquarters has assured the public that all land-related training, operational and administrative activities are on course and that the Chief of Policy and Plans is effectively running the affairs of the Service pending Lagbaja’s return.
“This is not peculiar to the NA as there have been instances where unforeseen human frailty kept service chiefs away for about three months and their Chiefs of Policy and Plans held sway in their absence.
“Claims of a leadership vacuum in the NA presently is, therefore, mere speculation, as all routine and scheduled activities of the Service are on course.
“Indeed, in line with its Forecast of Events for 2024, the Nigerian Army recently conducted the Captain-Major Practical Promotion Examination in Akure.
“Subsequently and in line with extant procedures, the Commander Training and Doctrine Command, Major General Kevin Aligbe, announced the result after due authorisation by the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), who currently answers for the Chief of Army Staff in his absence on leave and medical checkup abroad.
“Additionally, the Master Warrant Officer to Army Warrant Officer Promotion Exercise is currently ongoing in Jos. This follows a similar exercise held for Warrant Officer to Master Warrant Officer (WO-MWO) in Kaduna.
“The results of these exercises are expected to be released in the coming days, pending final reconciliation between the respective Corps and the Army Headquarters Department of Personnel Management.
“Contrary to the insinuation that the absence of the COAS occasioned by his leave, has caused undue delay in the release of the result of the WO-MWO promotion exercise, the NA wishes to clarify that it has never been the practice for the COAS to sign postings or promotions for both officers and soldiers in the NA.
“The Army Headquarters, therefore, enjoins the general public to remain confident in the NA and be assured that the Service remains on top of the security situations in the country and is ever ready to defend Nigeria against any aggression on its land territory.
“Meanwhile, the Army Headquarters wishes to thank all well-meaning Nigerians, who have shown genuine concern about Lt. Gen. TA Lagbaja and have continued to pray for him.
“The Army Headquarters assures Nigerians and the international community that all land-related training, operational, and administrative activities are on course and that the COPP (A) is firmly and effectively running the affairs of the Service pending the return of the COAS.”
Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, was appointed as the 27th Chief of Army Staff by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023. A seasoned operational officer, Lagbaja has held various command, staff.
