Nigerian Army don come out to debunk rumours wey dey circulate say their Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, don die. The rumours start from social media post by one Nigerian journalist wey claim say Lagbaja die of cancer nearly 48 hours ago in one undisclosed hospital overseas.
The post talk say Lagbaja, wey born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Osun State, and wey President Bola Tinubu appoint as the 27th Chief of Army Staff in June 2023, die because of stage three cancer. But the Nigerian Army quickly react to the post on X, marking it as fake news.
Sources from the Army Headquarters tell our correspondent say COAS Lagbaja no dey dead, but he dey critically ill at the moment. One of the sources say, “COAS no dey dead. He only dey critically ill now. We should dey pray for am at dis critical time and no dey spread rumours say he die.” Another source confirm say he travel out of the country for treatment.
The Army spokesman, Maj. Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, also clarify say the Chief of Army Staff dey on leave and necessary protocols dey in place for the Chief of Policy and Plans, Major General Abdulsalami Ibrahim, to act on behalf of the COAS while he dey away. Nwachukwu emphasize say the Nigerian Army be highly structured establishment with well-laid-out procedures and processes, so there no be leadership vacuum.
