Lagbaja: Life and times of Army Chief who stood solidly behind his troops
In this piece, SOLOMON ODENIYI delves into the unfolding controversy surrounding the death of the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, while also highlighting the significant milestones he achieved during his brief tenure
Appointed by President Bola Tinubu on June 19, 2023 alongside other service chiefs, Lt. Gen. Lagbaja’s tenure was tragically cut short, as he passed away on Tuesday night in Lagos State.
He had served only 505 days in office when he passed away after a prolonged illness—lasting 390 days longer than his predecessor, late Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, who died in a 2021 Nigerian Air Force Beechcraft B300 King Air 350i plane crash, the cause of which remains unresolved to this day.
Before Lagbaja’s passing, the Nigerian Army high command kept his trip abroad for medical treatment under wraps. However, his absence from significant public events soon raised concerns about his health and whereabouts, prompting questions from the public.
