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Army appoints Ag. COAS?
The Nigerian Army has described the reports making the rounds that the Chief of Army Staff(COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, is dead, as fake news, insisting that rumour which has gone viral on the social media is “news from evil doers.”
Several reports, originating from a social media post by a Nigerian journalist over the weekend, claimed that Lagbaja has died of cancer.
“The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has died. Lagbaja died in an undisclosed hospital overseas nearly 48hrs ago from a stage three Cancer, according to a senior Government official.
“The death of the Chief of Army staff has been kept secret because of intense lobbying by some Generals who want to take the position.
“Lagbaja, born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Osun State, was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023, as the 27th Chief of Army Staff.”.
However sources at the Army Headquarters confirmed that the Army Chief was ill and not dead.
One of the sources who would not want to be mentioned in print, said, “I can confirm to you that the COAS is alive and not dead. He is only critically ill at the moment. We should be praying for him at this critical time and not spreading rumours of his death.”
“And for your information, the death of the army Chief cannot be a secret because this is the Nigerian army and not a secret of the private army.
“Remember, the COAS, comes from a state, he has his family who are also monitoring his health situation, and they will be the first to know if he dies, it cannot never be a secret for the army to hide, we are all praying that the almighty God will do his wonders because there is nothing too difficult for God to do.
“People should stop being wicked and rejoicing when their fellow human beings are in pain,” the source said.
When contacted, the phone number of the director, Army Public Relations, Maj. Gen Onyema Nwachukwu indicated it was switched off.
DHQ reportedly appoints an Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS)
In the meantime, there are indications that the Defence Headquarters has named Major General Ibrahim Bagudu ABDULSALAM Gwazawa, Chief of Policy And Plans NA, as acting Chief of Army Staff while Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja is on sick leave.
According to a report on legit-ng, an online platform, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the director of army public relations, made this announcement on Sunday, October 20, while also debunking reports claiming Lagbaja was dead.
Bagudu, who serves as Chief of Policy and Plans, will ensure continuity in the Army’s leadership and operations during Lagbaja’s absence, following established protocols
There had been speculations that Lagbaja’s absence was linked to ill-health, which the army later confirmed but debunked swirling rumours that he had died.
The development expectedly resulted in intense lobbying for Lagbaja’s replacement.
Lagbaja, born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Osun State, was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023, as the 27th Chief of Army Staff.
