Army dismisses Lagbaja’s rumoured death as fake news

The Nigerian Army has dismissed the rumoured death of Taoreed Lagbaja, the chief of army staff (COAS), as fake news.

There have been public concerns about the whereabouts of the army chief.

On Sunday, Jackson Ude, an X user, made a post claiming that COAS had died of cancer in a hospital abroad.

“CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF DIES OF CANCER The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja has died,” the post reads.

“Lagbaja died in an undisclosed hospital overseas nearly 48hrs ago from a stage three Cancer, according to a senior Government official. The death of the Chief of Army staff has been kept secret because of intense lobbying by some Generals who want to take the position.

“Lagbaja, born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Osun State, was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023, as the 27th Chief of Army Staff,” Ude had tweeted at exactly 12:49pm.”

However, the army headquarters on its X handle has marked the post as fake news.

On Saturday, Onyema Nwachukwu, the army spokesman, dismissed reports suggesting there is a leadership vacuum due to Lagbaja’s absence.

Nwachukwu said Lagbaja is receiving treatment abroad, noting that Abdulsalami Ibrahim, the chief of policy and plans (army), has been acting.