Army Chief, Taoreed Lagbaja, laid to rest in Abuja
By Jeffrey Agbo
The late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, was laid to rest at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja on Friday following a distinguished military career that spanned several decades.
The funeral service began at the National Christian Centre, and the procession arrived at the cemetery around 3:00 pm.
After more than two hours of service, Lagbaja’s casket, draped in Nigeria’s green and white colours, was lowered into the ground at 4:41 pm.
Before the burial, President Bola Tinubu posthumously honoured General Lagbaja with the prestigious Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) award.
The award was accepted by his widow, Maria Lagbaja, who was called to the podium by the president.
In his address to the military personnel in attendance, President Tinubu urged them to stay resilient, reminding them not to allow “death to defeat” them and to continue to carry the legacy of the fallen COAS with pride.
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The ceremony was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and several state governors, including Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, who is also the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).
The military delegation was led by Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa and Acting Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede. Traditional rulers and members of the diplomatic corps were also present.
General Musa, in his remarks, assured that the military’s commitment to addressing insecurity would remain steadfast, despite the loss of their leader.
On Thursday, November 14, a service of songs was held at the Army Headquarters Garrison Parade Ground in Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja.
Lagbaja, who passed away on November 5 in Lagos at the age of 56, was flown to Abuja the following day. His remains arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 12:15 pm aboard a Nigerian Air Force aircraft.