The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has debunked rumors of his death after speaking with President Bola Tinubu on Sunday. This interaction, as reported by a source at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), followed swirling reports suggesting the army chief had passed away.
The source confirmed that President Tinubu was pleased to hear Lagbaja’s voice and expressed his prayers for the army chief’s quick recovery. “The president was very happy and prayed fervently for his quick recovery,” the source noted, adding that the COAS was in high spirits.
This comes after a former presidential aide, Jackson Ude, had alleged in a social media post that Lagbaja had passed away from cancer in an undisclosed overseas hospital. The Nigerian Army quickly responded, dismissing the claim as fake news. Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, refuted the death rumors and clarified that the COAS had traveled abroad for a routine medical checkup, not for any life-threatening condition.
Nwachukwu acknowledged that Lagbaja was on medical leave but emphasized that the Nigerian Army remained fully operational. He reassured the public that Maj. Gen. Kevin Aligbe, Commander of Training and Doctrine Command, was overseeing army operations during Lagbaja’s absence.
In a statement, a pro-Tinubu group, *Renewed Hope Agenda The Way Forward (RHATWF)*, also urged Nigerians to disregard the rumors. The group emphasized that Lagbaja had taken his annual leave and handed over responsibilities to his subordinates in accordance with military procedures. They labeled the rumors as the work of “mischief makers” aiming to discredit the army chief’s efforts against terrorism and other security challenges across the country.
The group praised Lagbaja’s leadership, noting his unbiased approach in handling appointments, redeployments, and operational strategies aimed at enhancing national security. They called on Nigerians to pray for his recovery and safe return, affirming that the army chief would resume his duties in due time.
With Lagbaja’s conversation with President Tinubu and the official clarifications from the Nigerian Army, the rumors surrounding his health and death have been thoroughly debunked.