The Nigerian Army has officially announced that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, is currently on leave, dispelling rampant speculation about his death.
This development was confirmed by Army spokesman, Onyema Nwachukwu, who stated that Major General Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim, the Chief of Policy and Plans, will serve as the acting COAS during Lagbaja’s absence.
Nwachukwu’s statement comes in response to reports suggesting that Lagbaja might be dead, leading to concerns about a potential leadership vacuum within the Army.
However, Nwachukwu reassured the public and Army personnel that there is a well-defined structure in place to ensure the continuity of leadership and operations.
He stated, “To be very clear, the Nigerian Army is a highly structured establishment with well-laid-out procedures and processes for dealing with different circumstances.
The spokesman also emphasised that the Army’s routine operations would remain unaffected during Lagbaja’s leave, countering claims of confusion among officers.
“Claims of a leadership vacuum in the NA at present are therefore mere speculation, as all routine and scheduled activities of the service are on course,” he said.
Lagbaja was appointed as the 27th Chief of Army Staff by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023. He has been pivotal in overseeing military operations across the country.
As the situation develops, the Nigerian Army remains committed to maintaining operational effectiveness and leadership stability.
