Military debunks rumoured death of Army Chief Lagbaja

The Nigerian Army has dismissed as fake news rumours circulating on the social media that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja has died.

The social media became rife recently with unsubstantiated reports that the COAS died from ‘stage three cancer’ at an undisclosed hospital abroad.

Reacting to the development, Nigerian Army Army spokesman, Onyema Nwachukwu, declared that the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja is on leave.

Nwachukwu said the Army Chief of Policy and Plans, Major General Abdulsalami Ibrahim, would act on behalf of the COAS during his absence.

Nwachukwu said: “There have even been insinuations that there is a leadership vacuum, with officers confused about what to do. Nothing could be further from the truth.

“To be very clear, the Nigerian Army is a highly structured establishment with well-laid-out procedures and processes for dealing with different circumstances.

“Before proceeding on leave, necessary protocols were put in place for the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim, to act on behalf of the COAS while he was away.

“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.”