Army dismisses ex-presidential spokesman claim of COAS death
Military authorities in Nigeria have dismissed reports claiming that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, is dead.
The sharp rebuttal is coming after former presidential spokesman, Mr Jackson Ude, in a post on his official X handle on Sunday, while quoting a senior government official, claimed that Lagbaja died in an undisclosed hospital overseas nearly 48 hours ago from a stage three cancer.
He also claimed that the death of the Chief of Army staff has been kept secret because of intense lobbying by some Generals who want to take the position.
He said, “CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF DIES OF CANCER
“The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has died. Lagbaja died in an undisclosed hospital overseas nearly 48hrs ago from a stage three Cancer, according to a senior Government official.
“The death of the Chief of Army staff has been kept secret because of intense lobbying by some Generals who want to take the position.
“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.”
But the army in a post on its official Facebook page, has described the news as fake.
Moreover, before now, the Nigerian army has consistently denied leadership vacuum following the absence of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.
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The spokesman of the army, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, said Lagbaja is on official leave, and necessary protocols have been put in place for the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Abdulsalami Ibrahim, to act on behalf of the COAS during his absence.
Nwachukwu stressed that Lagbaja’s absence is not affecting the operations of the service.
“There have even been insinuations that there is a leadership vacuum, with officers confused about what to do. Nothing could be further from the truth,” he said on Saturday.
“To be very clear, the Nigerian Army is a highly structured establishment with well-laid-out procedures and processes for dealing with different circumstances. Before proceeding on leave, necessary protocols were put in place for the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim, to act on behalf of the COAS while he was away.
“This is not peculiar to the NA, as there have been instances where unforeseen human frailty kept service chiefs away for about three months, and their Chiefs of Policy and Plans held sway in their absence. Claims of a leadership vacuum in the NA at present are therefore mere speculation, as all routine and scheduled activities of the service are on course.”
The army spokesman added that all routine and scheduled activities of the service are on course, adding that the appropriate departmental chiefs are fully carrying out their responsibilities in line with the COAS directives.
He also called on the public to disregard rumours, assuring them of the Nigerian Army’s continued service.
