KEY POINTS
- Lagbaja’s remains were received with a guard of honor.
- Funeral services begin Thursday; burial is set for Friday.
- He led key military operations and was a strategic leader.
In a sombre moment for Nigeria’s military and country, the remains of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, arrived in Abuja on Thursday before his last interment. At 12:16 p.m., the body landed at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, where it was accompanied by a military procession and a guard of honour. The late general, who was renowned for his commitment to military leadership and national security, was honoured by senior members of Nigeria’s armed forces as well as other dignitaries.
Body arrives in Abuja with military honors
On Thursday, a Service of Songs will kick off the burial rites for Lt. Gen. Lagbaja. Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, stated that the burial ceremony will take place at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja on Friday afternoon. Numerous notable military figures from Nigeria are buried in the cemetery, and the selection of this site highlights Lagbaja’s important services to the Nigerian Army.
Punch stated that the red-carpet procession that greeted Lagbaja’s remains at the airport’s presidential wing demonstrated how highly he was revered. President Bola Tinubu released a statement expressing his deepest sympathies to the family of the late army commander and to the Nigerian Armed Forces, praising Lagbaja for his contribution to the country as the casket was accompanied by military troops.
A career marked by service and excellence
Punch stated that Lt. Gen. Lagbaja was born in southwestern Nigeria on February 28, 1968. He enrolled in the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1987 and was commissioned on September 19, 1992, as a second lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps. Over the course of his illustrious three-decade military career, he led several crucial security missions.
These missions, which were crucial in combating insurgencies and regional conflicts throughout the nation, included Operation Zaki in Benue, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in the Southeast, and Operation Forest Sanity in Kaduna and Niger states.
Along with his accomplishments on the field, Lagbaja sought further military training. His dedication to professional development and military success was demonstrated by his master’s degree in strategic studies and his graduation from the U.S. Army War College.
Along with the rest of the country, Lagbaja’s surviving family includes his wife, Mariya, and their two children. His demise represents a turning point in Nigerian military history, and many will remember his leadership and service legacy.
