The Nigerian Army on Sunday, October 20, 2024, refuted widespread reports claiming the death of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.
The misleading rumors originated from a viral social media post by a Nigerian journalist, alleging that Lagbaja had passed away 48 hours earlier due to cancer.
The post read, “The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has died. Lagbaja passed away in an undisclosed overseas hospital nearly 48 hours ago from stage three cancer, according to a senior government official. The death has been kept secret due to intense lobbying among Generals vying for his position.”
Lagbaja, born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Osun State, was appointed as the 27th Chief of Army Staff by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023.
Responding to the viral claims on the social media platform X, the Nigerian Army labeled the news as fake. However, sources within Army Headquarters confirmed that while the Army Chief is critically ill, reports of his death are false.
One source stated, “COAS is not dead. He is critically ill at the moment. We should be praying for him during this difficult time instead of spreading false rumors.”
Another source added that Lagbaja is currently receiving medical treatment abroad and emphasized that no official communication has confirmed his death. “He is out of the country for treatment. I have not heard any credible reports about his passing, and such information could not be kept hidden if true,” the source said.
