ABUJA: The Nigerian Army on Sunday debunked reports circulating in the media that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, has died.
There are several media reports coming from a social media post by a Nigerian journalist announcing the Army chief, General Lagbaja’s death on Sunday.
The Army said the journalist claimed that Lagbaja had died of ilness related to cancer for about 48 hours ago.
The post read, “The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, has died. Lagbaja died in an undisclosed hospital overseas nearly 48 hours ago from stage three cancer, according to a senior government official.
The report claimed according to the Nigeria Army that The death of the Chief of Army Staff has not been made public due to intense lobbying by some Generals who want to occupy highly exalted Army position.
Taoreed Lagbaja, born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Osun State, was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023, as the 27th Chief of Army Staff.
Meanwhile, sources at the Army Headquarters confirmed (Not rapidospace news) that the army chief was critically ill.
One of the sources said, “COAS is not dead. He is only seriously sick at the moment. We should be praying for him at this critical time and not spreading rumours that he is dead
Reacting to the post on X, the Nigerian Army marked it as fake news.
Another source said the Army chief is out of the country to treat himself.
He is out of the country for treatment. And I have not heard of his death from anyone around him. There is no way such information could be hidden.
The Director of Army Public Relations, (PRO) Maj Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, mobile line was not going through it, indicated it was switched off.
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The development came as no fewer than 15 Generals of the Nigerian Army bowed out of service.
The retired Generals are from the Artillery Corps of the Service.
The reports indicates that the Artillery Corps delivers heavy firepower support to allied forces positioned at the front lines of the battlefield.
In a post on X, the Nigerian Army said the retired officers consist of 11 Major Generals and four Brigadier Generals.
