Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Nigerian Army on Sunday debunked social media reports that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, is dead, saying there is no iota of truth in the said reports.
One of the reports had claimed that Lagbaja died of cancer in an undisclosed hospital.
The Nigerian Army which dismissed the reports as fake news, urged members of the public to disregard it.
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.”
Army sources, however, confirmed that the COAS was critically ill.
The source said: “The COAS is not dead. He is only critically ill at the moment. We should be praying for him at this critical time and not spreading rumours of his death.”
Another source said that he had travelled abroad for medical treatment.
“He is out of the country for treatment. I have not heard of his death from anyone close to him. There is no way such information could be hidden.”
