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President Tinubu Mourns Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Lagbaja’s Passing at 56
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria’s Armed Forces, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, who passed away in Lagos on Tuesday night at the age of 56 following a period of illness.
Lt. General Lagbaja, born on February 28, 1968, was a respected figure in Nigeria’s military. His journey in the armed forces began in 1987 when he joined the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 39th Regular Course.
On September 19, 1992, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps, marking the start of a distinguished career that would see him rise through the ranks due to his dedication, professionalism, and strategic skill.
His impressive track record of service led President Tinubu to appoint him as Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2023.
Throughout his career, Lt. General Lagbaja exemplified the values of leadership, discipline, and service to his nation.
He served in key operational roles, notably as a platoon commander in the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion, where he gained valuable experience and honed his leadership abilities.
He also played essential roles in several high-stakes internal security missions that were critical to maintaining peace and order in troubled regions.
In Benue State, he contributed to Operation ZAKI, aimed at addressing local conflicts. In Borno, he was part of Operation Lafiya Dole, a mission designed to combat the insurgency in Nigeria’s northeast.
His leadership in Operation Udoka in Southeast Nigeria and Operation Forest Sanity across Kaduna and Niger States further underscored his commitment to preserving Nigeria’s security and unity.
In addition to his field experience, Lt. General Lagbaja was committed to continuous learning and professional development.
He was an alumnus of the highly regarded U.S. Army War College, where he earned a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies, underscoring his pursuit of military excellence and leadership.
His education there provided him with advanced insights and strategies that he brought back to benefit the Nigerian Army.
Lt. General Lagbaja leaves behind his wife, Mariya, and their two children.
His passing is a significant loss not only to his family but to the Nigerian Armed Forces, where he was admired and respected by his colleagues and those he commanded.
President Tinubu, offering his heartfelt condolences, praised Lt. General Lagbaja for his decades of dedicated service and for the sacrifices he made for Nigeria.
He extended his sympathies to the family, friends, and colleagues of Lt. General Lagbaja, urging the nation to honor the legacy of a leader who devoted his life to his country’s peace and security.
President Tinubu prays for the departed soul to find eternal peace, recognizing the lasting contributions Lt. General Lagbaja made to Nigeria’s stability and progress.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has reportedly declared a strike at Taraba State University over outstanding salary-related demands and delays in payments.
The strike is scheduled to begin today, October 12, 2026. According to the union’s chairman, the union had been engaging the Taraba State Government over its outstanding demands since February 2026.
“The union had exercised considerable patience and demonstrated its commitment to dialogue since February 2026, when it began engaging the Taraba State Government over the outstanding issues,” Mbave said.
“The union had earlier suspended its planned industrial action following an appeal by the government for additional time through the Office of the Head of Civil Service, in the interest of maintaining industrial harmony,” the chairman added.
The Chairman of Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, Torseer Yina, has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the ancient town.
The curfew takes effect from Thursday, October 8, 2026, following unrest and violent protests in the area.
According to reports, the action was taken to contain the unrest and violent protests by members of BEMOA following the death of one of its members by unknown gunmen.
The protest, which was reportedly hijacked by hoodlums, turned violent after an angry mob burnt two vehicles belonging to the Benue State Civil Protection Guards.
The Gboko council chairman said the curfew takes effect immediately and warned that anyone caught flouting the order or breaching public peace would be decisively dealt with.
Nine people have died in a fatal road crash along the Ijebu-Ode-Benin Expressway in Ogun State.
The crash occurred on Monday at about 4:55pm around the Bethel area along the Ijebu-Ode/Ore axis of the expressway. It involved a white Toyota Hiace commercial bus belonging to Delta Line and a white Sino truck operated by Bill Gas Solution Ltd.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), all nine people involved in the crash, comprising three males and six females, died in the incident.
The FRSC said the crash occurred while it was raining and the road was wet, with preliminary investigations identifying speed violation as the probable cause.
The FRSC rescue team arrived at the scene shortly after receiving the report, while the bodies of the victims were taken to the General Hospital Morgue in Ijebu-Ode.
The Ogun State Sector Commander, Oludare Ogunjobi, urged motorists, especially commercial drivers, to obey speed limits and exercise extra caution when driving in the rain.
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