Explore the full list of Nigerian Chiefs of Army Staff who lost their lives while in service, highlighting significant events and impacts on national security.
General Aguiyi Ironsi
Died: July 29, 1966
Circumstances: Assassinated during a counter-coup led by northern officers.
Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru
Died: May 21, 2021
Circumstances: Died in a plane crash near Kaduna while on official duty.
Lieutenant General Salihu Ibrahim
Died: July 1993 (although he was relieved of his duties, his sudden death raised speculation).
Major General Idris Alkali
Died: September 3, 2018
Circumstances: While not a COAS, he was a prominent senior officer who died under mysterious circumstances.
Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua
Died: December 8, 1997 (Detained under Abacha’s regime, although he was not COAS, his sudden death remains significant).
Nigeria is in a state of mourning following the untimely passing of Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, who died on Tuesday in Lagos after a brief illness.
His appointment by President Bola Tinubu occurred less than a year ago, making his unexpected death a considerable loss for the nation’s military leadership.
This incident marks the third occasion in Nigeria’s history where a sitting Chief of Army Staff has died while in office, contributing to a troubling pattern of losses among the country’s military leaders.
General Lagbaja’s demise represents a significant setback for the Nigerian Armed Forces and the nation, which had relied on his leadership and commitment.
The history of Nigeria’s military leadership includes the tragic deaths of previous Chiefs of Army Staff.
Joseph Akahan, who was appointed shortly before the Nigerian Civil War in 1967, lost his life in a helicopter crash while returning from the frontlines.
Similarly, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, who took office in January 2021, died in a plane crash during an official mission just months into his tenure.
General Lagbaja, a graduate of the U.S. Army War College and commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1992, had previously served in various capacities before his appointment as COAS on June 19, 2023.
He was instrumental in various internal security initiatives, such as Operation ZAKI in Benue State, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in Southeast Nigeria, and Operation Forest Sanity in Kaduna and Niger States.
A statement from Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga verified that the Army chief passed away in Lagos following a short illness.
His successor is Olufemi Oluyede, a fellow graduate from the Defence Academy, who was appointed by the acting Chief of Army Staff last Wednesday, as Lagbaja had been reported unwell for several weeks.
Peoplesmind
