Image
October 20, 2024
SaharaReporters on Friday exclusively reported that top military officers had begun to jostle for the position of Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff following his ailment.
The Nigerian Army has refuted reports that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, is dead.
Several reports on Sunday announced that the Army chief had died of cancer.
An X post by a journalist on Sunday 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.”
However, the Nigerian Army has described the report as fake.
Sources also told SaharaReporters on Sunday that Army chief is alive.
SaharaReporters on Friday exclusively reported that top military officers had begun to jostle for the position of Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff following his ailment.
It was learnt that due to his health condition, retired generals had begun to lobby politicians and influential retired generals to succeed Lagbaja.
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.
He took office on June 23, 2023, replacing Faruk Yahaya as the Chief of Army Staff.
The Chief of Army Staff reports to the Chief of Defence Staff, who in turn reports to the Defence Minister, accountable to the President of Nigeria.
Last Tuesday, SaharaReporters exclusively reported that the Army General had been flown abroad by his family to attend to his medical needs.
Sources described his ailment as “strange” to SaharaReporters.
“The Chief of Army Staff is nowhere to be found for many days now. He hasn’t been seen at the Army headquarters or any military function in the last three weeks. I can confirm to you that he is seriously sick and was taken to the hospital. However, his family members arranged for him to be moved out of the country for medical treatment,” one of the sources had said.
“The COAS is a leader and most of the Major Generals are doing anyhow because they have no one to report to currently. Anybody can fall sick but someone needs to be in charge. I wish him a very quick recovery, I have known him since our days in Makurdi, Benue State. We were both young officers then and he was a captain.”
A Major had also said, “As military men, we were taught to be observant, so I noticed he was not at the October 1 Independence Day parade ground in Abuja. I asked my superiors including a general and I was told that he was out of the country. You know, it is unusual for him not to be around at that time.”
Sources told SaharaReporters on Friday that Lagbaja's health had taken a turn for the worse, causing significant concern within the military. According to them, the Chief of Army Staff had become incapacitated due to his deteriorating condition.
“His health is seriously deteriorating and he is currently capable. He is on sick bed; he can’t hear what people are saying again, just like someone with hearing problems. We are praying for his quick recovery,” one of the sources said.
“So it’s a very serious illness but the Army authorities can never disclose it now. Even before this stage, General Lagbaja was prepared to resign because of the heath challenge.”
On Saturday, the Nigerian Army in a statement issued by its Director of Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, thanked “all well-meaning Nigerians who have shown genuine concern about Lt Gen TA Lagbaja and have continued to pray for him”.
Nwachukwu dismissed reports that Lagbaja’s absence had left a vacuum, saying 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 is away”.
“Claims of leadership vacuum in the NA presently is therefore mere speculation, as all routine and scheduled activities of the Service are on course,” he said.