- Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, passed away on November 5, 2024, in Lagos after a brief illness
- His death marks the third time a Nigerian Army Chief has died in office, following the tragic deaths of Joseph Akahan (1967) and Ibrahim Attahiru (2021)
- TheRadar compiled a list of COAS who died while in active service
Nigeria is mourning the death of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, who passed away on November 5, 2024, in Lagos after a brief illness.
His untimely death, barely a year after his appointment by President Bola Tinubu, is a tragic blow to the nation’s military leadership. It also marks the third time a Chief of Army Staff has died while in office, joining a sombre list of military heads who met their end during their tenure.
TheRadar brings you the list of the Nigerian Chiefs of Army Staff who died while serving in office:
3 Nigerian Chiefs of Army Staff who died in office
1. Joseph Akahan (August 1967)
Joseph Akahan, aged 30, was appointed Chief of Army Staff just before the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War in 1967.
Akahan had been on a visit to the frontlines in Nsukka and was returning to his hometown in Gboko for a brief rest. Unfortunately, as he was heading back to Makurdi, the helicopter he was travelling in crashed, killing him and the two pilots aboard.
His death came at a critical juncture during the Civil War, making it a significant loss for the Nigerian Army.
2. Ibrahim Attahiru (May 21, 2021)
Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru was appointed COAS in January 2021, following the appointment of new service chiefs by President Muhammadu Buhari in response to growing security challenges.
Attahiru, along with other new service chiefs, was tasked with addressing escalating security threats across the country. Sadly, just months into his tenure, Attahiru's official trip from Abuja to Kaduna was cut short when the aircraft carrying him encountered severe weather conditions and crashed.
The crash claimed his life, along with 10 other members of his entourage. His death shocked the nation and further highlighted the perilous nature of military leadership in Nigeria.
3. Taoreed Lagbaja (November 5, 2024)
Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, an alumnus of the prestigious U.S. Army War College, was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1992. Prior to his appointment as COAS on June 19, 2023, he had an extensive military career, serving in critical positions such as a platoon commander in the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion.
He played key roles in various security operations, including Operation ZAKI in Benue State, Operation Lafiya Dole in Borno, Operation Udoka in Southeast Nigeria, and Operation Forest Sanity in Kaduna and Niger States.
Lagbaja’s sudden passing in November 2024, after a brief illness in Lagos, has left a void in the Nigerian military.
His classmate from the Nigerian Defence Academy, Major General Olufemi Oluyede, has since been appointed as the new Chief of Army Staff.
Lagbaja’s tenure had been marked by efforts to address internal security challenges, and his death marks another tragic chapter in Nigeria's military leadership history.
The untimely deaths of these military leaders highlight the unique and often perilous nature of the role of Chief of Army Staff in Nigeria. Each of these losses has been a significant blow to the Nigerian military, particularly in times of national crises.
The latest loss, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, adds to the list of military leaders who died in office, underscoring the risks that come with leading the armed forces of a nation facing multiple security challenges.
Army debunks COAS death rumours, retires 15 Generals
Earlier, TheRadar reported that the Nigerian Army has officially refuted rumours regarding the death of Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, which circulated widely on social media over the weekend.
The rumours originated from a post that claimed Lagbaja had succumbed to stage three cancer in an undisclosed hospital overseas.
