The Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has extended condolences to the family of the late Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, Nigeria’s 23rd Chief of Army Staff, who passed away on November 5, 2024, after a brief illness.
In a statement Director of Army Public Relations Major General Onyema Nwachukwu said General Oluyede visited Mrs. Mariya Lagbaja and other family members on November 6, 2024, at the Flag Staff House, Niger Barracks, Abuja. He was accompanied by senior officers, including Principal Staff Officers of Army Headquarters, Corps Commanders, and General Officers Commanding.
During the visit, General Oluyede honored General Lagbaja’s contributions to the Nigerian Army and the nation, describing him as a gallant and dedicated leader. In his message in the condolence register, he stated, “On behalf of the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, I commiserate with Mrs. Mariya Lagbaja, the children, and the entire Lagbaja family over the passing of our dogged, gallant, and extremely dedicated leader Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja… Rest in peace, our leader and hero. You will surely be missed.”
Lieutenant General Lagbaja was appointed Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2023, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and took command on June 23, 2023. Commissioned in 1992 from the Nigerian Defence Academy, he served as an exceptional Infantry officer, assuming key roles, including General Officer Commanding 82 and 1 Divisions and Chief of Operations. His career was marked by notable efforts in countering terrorism and addressing security challenges across Nigeria.
