How COAS Lagbaja’s Death Caused Confusion Within Presidency And Army – Report

The recent passing of Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, reportedly caused a wave of confusion within the Nigerian presidency and the military.

This was contained in a statement by an investigative journalist, Jackson Ude on his verified X handle.

Ude claimed that Lagbaja passed away on October 17, 2024, at a hospital in the United States, where he had sought treatment for cancer.

According to him, “Late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja died on October 17, 2024, at a U.S hospital. The late Army Chief had left Nigeria for a German hospital. After assessing his situation, he was advised to seek further treatment for his cancer elsewhere.

“He was said to have immediately headed to a recommended U.S hospital where he died of cancer on October 17, 2024.

“On October 20, 2024, I had made a post revealing the death of the Chief of Army Staff. The Army denied it, calling it “fake news.”

“They threatened to arrest me and started using social media urchins to attack me. Informant told me Gen. Lagbaja’s death caused a lot of confusion and panic within the Presidency and the Military especially happening at the time the President was away on vacation in London.

“The Nigerian Intelligence Agency, NIA, had warned of the consequences of making the death of the Chief of Army Staff public partly because of the threat posed by Niger Republic and a possible coup.

“The warnings were the reason President Bola Tinubu cut short his trip, retired several military Generals and then appointed an acting Chief of Army Staff who has now been confirmed as substantive.”