Nigerian Army Flies Flag At Half Mast In Honour Of Late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja

In line with the directive of the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, flags are being flown in at half-staff accross the nation for seven days in honour of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.

The President’s directive followed the postponement of the Federal Executive Council meeting earlier scheduled to be held at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja.

It would be recalled that President Tinubu directed the postponement of the Federal Executive Council meeting in honour of the late Chief of Army Staff that passed away on Tuesday 5th November 2024. 

Abdridged Profile of Late Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Taoreed

The late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy in the year 1987 as a member of the 39th Regular Course. 

He was commissioned as a second lieutenant on 19 September 1992 into the Nigerian Infantry Corps. Between 1992 and 1995, Lagbaja was platoon commander of the 93 Battalion. From 1995 to 2001, he was platoon commander of 72 Special Forces Battalion. 

In 2001, Lagbaja obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Geography from the Nigerian Defence Academy. He studied Strategic Studies at the US Army War College at the Master's level.

In 2016, he was named the Chief of Staff at Headquarters 8 Task Force Division, Monguno. He served as Director of Operations at the Army Headquarters Department of Army Training and Operations from January to December 2018. General 

Lagbaja was General Officer Commanding Headquarters 82 Division from March 2021 to August 2022 and Headquarters 1 Division from August 2022 to June 2023.

In 2008, he attended the Military Observers Course on Peacekeeping Wing at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji February – May 2008 and ECOWAS Standby Force Battalion Command Post Course, Peacekeeping Centre, Bamako, Mali in June – August 2010). Untill his death, he was a Lieutenant General following promotion in July 2023 by the President.