Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja’s family has regretted obtaining Nigerian Defence Academic(NDA) form for the deceased as reported by The Nation Newspaper
He said he wouldn’t have obtained the form if he knew his life would be cut short.
Other family members who are still dazed by their illustrious son’s death alleged that he was killed diabolically because of a land dispute in his hometown, Ilobu community,
It will be recalled that there was a dispute in Ilobu, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State in 2023, when delegates of the Nigerian Army planned to cite a hospital in the community.
Speaking with The Nation, Pa Tajudeen Lagbaja(younger brother of the late COAS’s father), disclosed that he was the one who obtained the NDA form for the late Lieutenant General.
The distraught family head said, “Everyone who is born must die. We give glory to God. The year that I obtained NDA form for him, if I had known that he would die before me, I would not have done so. I regret obtaining the form for him. But it is destiny.
“The death that killed Taoreed Lagbaja ought to take me. I took him as one of my children. We are greatly bereaved, we are sad. He constructed a borehole in his father’s compound and other places in the community.
“We can never forget him, his death is so shocking to us. I have accepted the fate, all the promises he made to me have hit a brick wall. He always gave us hope in the family, despite the sorrow, I give thanks to God.”
Also speaking, a family member who identified herself simply as Madam Toyin, alleged that Lagbaja was killed diabolically because of a land dispute in the community.
Lt. General Lagbaja passed away on Tuesday night in Lagos following an illness, as announced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
President Tinubu expressed profound sadness over the loss of a “dedicated servant of the nation” whose military career spanned over three decades.
Lt. General Lagbaja, born on February 28, 1968, was appointed Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2023.
His service history includes numerous leadership roles in critical security operations such as Operation ZAKI in Benue, Lafiya Dole in Borno, and Forest Sanity across Kaduna and Niger States.
A distinguished alumnus of the U.S. Army War College with a Master’s in Strategic Studies, Lt. General Lagbaja was recognized for his strategic acumen and commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security. He is survived by his wife, Mariya, and their two children.
President Tinubu offered his condolences to the family and the Nigerian Armed Forces, showing Lt. General Lagbaja’s legacy of service and integrity.
Meanwhile, Kogi State governor, Ahmed Ododo, yesterday expressed shock over the death of Lagbaja.
The governor described his death as “a huge loss to the country as a whole.”
A statement by Kogi State Information and Communications Commissioner, Kingsley Fanwo said: “The Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Alh Ahmed Usman Ododo has expressed shock over the death of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, calling his demise ‘a huge loss to the country as a whole’.
“Governor Ododo said the departure of the gallant and brave Army Chief was particularly sad at a time the fight against insecurity in Nigeria had gathered momentum, noting that the late Gen. Lagbaja was a ‘fearless General, an indomitable fighter, a tactical genius and an uncompromising warrior who was determined to stamp out terrorism and banditry from Nigeria’.
“The Governor extends his heartfelt sympathies to the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency Sen Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR; the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Military establishment, the government and people of Osun State and the family of the departed hero.
“He called on the Nigerian Armed Forces to ensure that his dream of a secure and safe Nigeria does not die with him and prayed for the repose of his soul.”
The NATION
