Army buries Lagbaja Friday

The Nigerian Army, on Tuesday, said the remains of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, would be interred on Friday.

President Bola Tinubu, who returned from his trip to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday evening, is expected to give him the last respect at the state burial.

Lagbaja, who was appointed by the President on June 19, 2023, alongside other service chiefs, died on November 6, 2024.

Announcing his death, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Lagbaja died in Lagos after a period of illness.

The President declared a seven-day mourning and ordered that national flags fly at half-mast across the country to honour the departed army chief.

Speaking in an interview with our correspondent on Tuesday night, the Director of Army Public Relations, Maj Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, said Lagbaja would be buried at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja.

He added the late army chief would be given a befitting burial.

Onyema said, “The service of songs will actually be on Thursday, November 14.

“The funeral service will be at the International Christian Centre, Abuja, on Friday, November 15.

“We are going to give him a befitting burial because he was a very passionate leader who gave his all to the service of his fatherland.

Earlier on Tuesday, a delegation from the Nigerian Army, led by Maj Gen Kamal Yusuf, visited Ilobu, Osun State, to condole with the Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Ashiru Olaniyan, over the demise of Lagbaja, an indigene of the town.

Yusuf, who recalled how he and the deceased used to travel by rail to Kaduna when they got admission to the Nigeria Defence Academy, described Lagbaja as a dedicated Army officer who led his troops from the front.

He promised the traditional ruler that the late army chief would be given a state burial.

“We are here to commiserate with you on the passing of Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja. The Nigerian Army sent this committee to you.

“We know you are aware of the death, but it is right that we come to condole you and also tell you about the burial arrangement.

“May God Almighty prevent future occurrence of an incident such as his untimely death.

“Late Lt Gen Abiodun Lagbaja began his military journey as a soldier in 1987. Myself and Lagbaja were in the same set. We would board a train from Osogbo to Kaduna to the Nigeria Defence Academy. He read Geography and we graduated in the year 1982 with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.

“The late Lagbaja got promotions without controversies. He became Lt General and was appointed the Chief of Army Staff before his demise.

“General Lagbaja was a gallant and pragmatic officer who led his troops from the front.

“He was a combatant, the more reason President Tinubu made him the Chief of Army Staff.

“We have nothing else to say other than to condole you. I am to deliver an exit letter and to deliver a response to a letter you have sent to the authorities. I will all give you the two letters,” he said.

Earlier, while receiving the army delegation at the Osun State Government Secretariat, Governor Ademola Adeleke described the planned state burial for the deceased as a right step.

Adeleke, who also said the late army chief was a bright star of Osun and Nigeria, noted that his service to the fatherland would never be forgotten.

Commending the decision of the President to grant the late army chief a state burial, the governor also applauded the declaration by the army delegation that all four community projects started by the deceased would be completed.

A statement by Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, quoted the governor as saying, “I thank Mr President for approving state burial for our late brother.

“We also appreciate the message from the army representative that ongoing community projects initiated by General Lagbaja at Ilobu, Ifon and Erin Osun would be completed. We will follow up on this.”