Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja

The Nigerian Army has denied reports circulating online that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, is dead.

The rumor of the Army chief’s demise went viral after a Nigerian journalist made the claim on X. The journalist claimed that Lagbaja had died of cancer 48 hours earlier.

The post read;

“The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has died. Lagbaja died in an undisclosed hospital overseas nearly 48 hours ago from stage three cancer, according to a senior government official. The death of the Chief of Army Staff has been kept secret due to intense lobbying by some generals who wish to take the position.

Lagbaja, born on 28 February 1968 in Ilobu, Osun State, was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023 as the 27th Chief of Army Staff.”

Reacting via its X handle, the Nigerian Army described the news as fake.