The nation went into mourning following the death of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, a thoroughbred soldier. He passed on in Lagos on November 5, 2024, after a period of illness. His death came three years after the tragic demise of Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, the then COAS who died alongside 10 military officers and crew in a plane crash in Kaduna.
Born on February 28, 1968 at Ilobu in Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State, Lagbaja attended St. Charles Grammar School and Local Authority Teachers College in Osogbo, Osun State. In 1987, he was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) as a member of the 39th Regular Course. In September 1992, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Nigerian Infantry Corps. He was platoon commander of the 93 Battalion from 1992 to 1995 and platoon commander of the 72 Special Forces Battalion from 1995 to 2001. He also obtained a bachelor’s degree in Geography from the NDA in 2001 and master’s degree in Strategic Studies at the US Army War College. Lagbaja also attended the Military Observers Course on Peacekeeping Wing at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji in 2008 and ECOWAS Standby Force Battalion Command Post Course-Peacekeeping Centre, Bamako, Mali in 2010.
Lagbaja was not only an instructor at the NDA (2001 to 2004), he was also a Grade 2 staff officer in charge of peacekeeping at the Army Headquarters, Department of Army Training and Operations. Between 2006 and 2009, he was a Directing Staff at Armed Forces Command and Staff College. He was Deputy Chief of Staff G1 at Headquarters 81 Division in 2009 and later the Commanding Officer at 72 Special Forces Battalion in Makurdi from 2012 to 2015. He served as Chief of Staff at Headquarters 8 Task Force Division, Monguno, in 2016; Director of Operations at the Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and Operations in 2018; Commander of Headquarters 9 Brigade, Ikeja, Lagos, and Headquarters 2 Brigade, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State; General Officer Commanding Headquarters 82 Division (March 2021 – August 2022), and Headquarters 1 Division (August 2022 – June 2023). President Bola Tinubu appointed him COAS on June 19, 2023 to succeed Lt. General Faruk Yahaya. He was a proud holder of many honours and awards including Nigerian Army Medal, Grand Service Star, Passed Staff Course Dagger, Field Command Medal of Honour, General Staff Medal of Honour and National Defence College (Chile).
He participated in the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC), Operation Lafiya Dole (internal security operation in Borno), Operation Harmony IV in Bakassi Peninsula, Operation Zaki (internal security operation in Benue), Operation MESA/Operation Udoka (internal security operation in the South-East) and Operation Forest Sanity, (internal security operation in Kaduna/Niger), among others.
He fought doggedly to stamp out insecurity in the country by taking the war to the enclaves of terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements in the country. He led the troops from the frontlines and motivated them greatly.
Many prominent Nigerians have paid tributes to him. President Tinubu expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family and the Nigerian Armed Forces and lauded his significant contributions to the nation. In a statement announcing his death, the Presidency said he demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment through his distinguished career. The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, described him as one of the best military officers Nigeria has ever produced. He said he was loyal, committed, trustworthy, a compatriot and a good leader.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari described him as a patriot and an outstanding officer who served the nation with utmost diligence. He said he left his indelible footprints as a professional soldier and inspiring commander wherever he served. The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, described him as courageous, dedicated and loyal to Nigeria. “Therefore, his passing is a tremendous loss, not only to his family, the Army and the Armed Forces of Nigeria but also to the entire nation and humanity,” Musa said. Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said the late COAS gave his all for the security and unity of Nigeria.
He was married to Mariya Abiodun-Lagbaja and the marriage was blessed with children. We commiserate with the family and the nation for the great loss. May God grant his soul eternal rest and give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.