The acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has paid a condolence visit to Mariya Lagbaja and other family members of the late Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.

Mr Lagbaja is Nigeria’s 23rd chief of army staff who passed on Tuesday after a brief illness.

This is contained in a statement by the director, army public relations, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Mr Nwachukwu said that Mr Oluyede paid the condolence visit at the Flag Staff House, Niger Barracks Abuja, accompanied by principal staff officers of the Army Headquarters, Corps Commanders, and General Officers Commanding of the Nigerian Army.

He said that the acting COAS paid tribute to the late COAS and extolled his gallantry, dedication, and legacies throughout his service years.

According to Mr Nwachukw, Mr Oluyede penned a succinct message in the condolence register opened in honour of the late COAS.

“The Acting COAS stated, “It is with a huge sense of loss, albeit responsibility, that I, on behalf of the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, commiserate with Mrs Mariya Lagbaja, the children and the entire Lagbaja clan over the passing of our dogged, gallant and extremely dedicated leader Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja (Nigerian Army Medal) the Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army.

“Lt.-Gen. Lagbaja, without doubt, gave his all to the service of our dear nation. This was evident in his dedication to duty and the legacies he has left behind.

“We only take solace in the fact that we cannot in any way querry the Almighty. We surely owe him a whole lot.

“Rest in peace, our leader and hero. You will surely be missed”, Mr Oluyede wrote.

The army spokesman gave a brief profile of Mr Lagbaja, who said the late army chief was appointed on June 19, 2023, as the 23rd COAS by President Bola Tinubu and assumed command on June 23, 2023.

”A seasoned Infantry officer, the late Gen. Lagbaja, was commissioned in 1992 as a member of the 39 Regular Combatant Course of the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.

“He distinguished himself as a Special Forces Commander and a military leader per excellence, who held several appointments in the course of his exemplary military career.

“Late General Lagbaja served as General Officer Commanding 82 and 1 Divisions of the Nigerian Army in Enugu and Kaduna, respectively.

“He also commanded 9 Brigade Ikeja and 2 Brigade Uyo as well as 72 Special Forces Battalion on two separate tours of duty.

“Prior to his assumption of command of the Nigerian Army as the 23rd Chief of Army Staff, he was the Chief of Operations (Army), where he coordinated all the operational activities of the Nigerian Army.

“As the then Chief of Army Staff, he worked assiduously to defeat terrorism, banditry, and other security challenges experienced across the nation,” he said.

(NAN)