Nigerian Army Debunks Rumours of Chief of Army Staff General Lagbaja’s Death
The Nigerian Army has firmly denied rumors about the death of its Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, which gained traction following a tweet by Jackson Ude, a former presidential aide and social media commentator. Ude had claimed that General Lagbaja passed away from cancer in an overseas hospital.
In his tweet, Ude stated, “CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF DIES OF CANCER. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has died… nearly 48hrs ago from a stage three cancer, according to a senior Government official.” The post quickly went viral, sparking widespread speculation.
However, the Nigerian Army swiftly labeled the post as FAKE NEWS on social media. Army spokesperson Major General Onyema Nwachukwu addressed the matter, dismissing the rumors and reaffirming that General Lagbaja is on official leave, not incapacitated. He assured the public that all protocols are in place, with Major General Abdulsalami Ibrahim, the Army’s Chief of Policy and Plans, overseeing duties in the COAS’s absence.
Nwachukwu stated, “There have been insinuations of a leadership vacuum… Nothing could be further from the truth.” He emphasized that the Army has well-established structures for handling such situations and assured that all activities within the Nigerian Army are continuing as scheduled.