The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga has announced that the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja has died at the age of 56 following an undisclosed illness.
The late COAS was born on February 28, 1968, he commenced his military career at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in 1987, completed his training 5 years later in 1992 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps as part of the 39th Regular Course.
He was appointed as COAS by President Bola Tinubu on June 19, 2023.
Prior to his appointment as COAS, he demonstrated leadership and commitment serving in several roles such as platoon commander in 93 Battalion, 72 Special Forces Battalion as well as internal security operations including Operation ZAKI in Benue State, Operation Lafiya Dole in Borno State, Operation Forest Sanity across Kaduna and Niger States, amongst others.
He also obtained a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies and is also an alumnus of the prestigious U.S. Army War College.
According to the statement, President Tinubu also expressed heartfelt condolences to the family of the late COAS and the Nigerian Armed Forces.