The Nigerian military honoured the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, with a farewell ceremony on Thursday, November 14, 2024.
Lagbaja, who passed away on November 5 after a brief illness, will be buried today at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja.
Beyond Boders recalls that the Lagos farewell ceremony began in Lagos at the Murtala Muhammed Airport. Dignitaries, including Lagos Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and top military officers, paid their last respects.
The late general’s body arrived at the Air Force wing in a cream-coloured SUV hearse at 9 a.m., escorted by soldiers from the Guards Brigade.
At 10:32 a.m., six senior officers moved the casket onto a Nigerian Air Force C-130H aircraft. The body was airlifted at 11:45 a.m., marking the end of the Lagos ceremony, which lasted about two hours.
The remains arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at 12:16 p.m., where a guard of honour was performed. A service of songs in his memory was also held on Thursday evening.
Tributes poured in from colleagues and family. Maj. Gen. Kelvin Aligbe, Commander of Training and Doctrine Command, described Lagbaja as an exceptional leader. He noted that Lagbaja was the only officer in memory to command a battalion twice.
“He was primed for the operation that he led, through which, even though they say soldiers don’t die, his memories fade away.
“The only way I and my course mates and the other members of the armed forces, officers and soldiers that he left behind can honour his memory truly is to continue what he believed in. He believed in the indivisibility of Nigeria,” Aligbe said.
Bilikisu Ibrahim, representing the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association, called Lagbaja a man of faith and courage. “To those he served, he was a pillar of protection, an unwavering beacon amidst storms of insanity and threats.
“But beyond our soldiers was a man of faith, a spirit rooted in devotion and conviction. In the trials of duty, he held fast to his spirituality, finding in prayers the fortitude that guided him through the darkest battles,” she said.
Born on February 28, 1968, Lagbaja began his military career in 1987 at the Nigerian Defence Academy. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry Corps in 1992.
His career included leading key operations such as “Lafiya Dole” in Borno and “Forest Sanity” in Kaduna and Niger states.
Lagbaja also earned a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College, reflecting his dedication to professional excellence.
Lt. Gen. Lagbaja is survived by his wife, Mariya, and their two children. President Bola Tinubu expressed condolences, describing the late general as a “dedicated patriot and an outstanding leader.”
