A Pillar Of Discipline: Buratai Pays Heartfelt Tribute To Late COAS, Lagbaja

A Pillar Of Discipline: Buratai Pays Heartfelt Tribute To Late COAS, Lagbaja

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd), has expressed sorrow over the passing of the late Army Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja. Buratai described Lagbaja as a symbol of discipline and dedication, praising his...CONTINUE READING…

exceptional life and lasting legacy.

Lagbaja, who served under Buratai as the Commander of the 9 Brigade in Ikeja and later as Commander of the 2 Brigade in Uyo, was promoted to Major General before his appointment in 2020 as Director of Campaign Plan at Army Headquarters.

Buratai extended his condolences to President Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian Army, and Lagbaja’s family, acknowledging the late general’s significant contribution to transforming the Nigerian Army into a powerful institution.

“General Lagbaja’s legacy will live on through the lives he touched and the country he served with unwavering dedication,” Buratai said.

Family Claims Diabolical Influence in Death of Late COAS, Lt. Gen. Lagbaja

Meanwhile, Pa Tajudeen Lagbaja, the late COAS’s father, expressed regret over encouraging his son’s military career, particularly after learning of the tragic circumstances surrounding his death.

He stated that had he known the outcome, he would never have facilitated the process of obtaining an NDA form for Lt. Gen. Lagbaja, reflecting on the pain of his untimely passing.

Other family members have suggested that his death might be linked to a land dispute in his hometown of Ilobu, Osun State. The conflict reportedly arose in 2023 when the Nigerian Army proposed building a hospital in the area.

Pa Tajudeen, speaking with The Nation, said, “If I knew his life would be cut short, I would not have obtained the NDA form for him.” He lamented, “The death of Taoreed Lagbaja feels as though it should have been mine. We are deeply saddened, but we accept fate.”

He went on to recount the late COAS’s contributions to his community, including the construction of a borehole in his father’s compound, and expressed the family’s deep sorrow at his passing. Despite the grief, Pa Tajudeen acknowledged, “I give thanks to God, though we will never forget him.”