Indications have emerged that all might not be well with Nigeria’s
Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, as his
whereabouts is generating concerns among military hierarchy.
Multiple
security sources disclosed that Lagbaja has conspicuously been absent from
several official duties.
Checks
on the Nigerian Army social media pages show that the last public appearance of
Lagbaja was on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, when he inaugurated several
civil-military cooperation projects in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of
Osun State.
It
was learnt that top military officers have been representing him at key events,
including the Army War College Nigeria Course 8/2024 graduation dinner and
award night in Abuja on October 2, 2024, where Lagbaja was supposed to be the
chief host.
Additionally,
Lagbaja missed the combined passing-out parade of the 71 Regular Course, Army,
Navy, and Air Force on September 28.
This
significant event saw the graduation of Direct Short Service Course 28 (Army)
and Direct Short Service Course 32 (Air Force) cadets from the prestigious
Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).
Lagbaja's
absence from these events has raised eyebrows, especially given his position as
the head of the Nigerian Army.
Sources
disclosed that Lagbaja has also not been seen at the Nigerian Army Headquarters
located at the Armed Forces Complex, Muhammadu Buhari Way, Abuja in the last
three weeks.
“We
haven’t seen his official vehicle at his designated car park for three weeks
now, unlike before,” a soldier attached to the Army headquarters
However,
a top officer close to Lagbaja told SaharaReporters that he was flown abroad by
his family members on a secret trip to attend to his medical needs.
The
officer said, “The Chief of Army Staff is nowhere to be found for many days
now. He hasn’t been seen at the Army headquarters or any military function in
the last three weeks. I can confirm to you that he is seriously sick and was
taken to the hospital. However, his family members arranged for him to be moved
out of the country for medical treatment.”
“The
COAS is a leader and most of the Major Generals are doing anyhow because they
have no one to report to currently. Anybody can fall sick but someone needs to
be in charge. I wish him a very quick recovery, I have known him since our days
in Makurdi, Benue State. We were both young officers then and he was a
captain,” another officer was quoted as saying.
Also,
a Major said, “I don’t know whether he is sick or not, I can’t confirm that to
you, but I got to know two weeks ago that he wasn’t in the country and I know
he's not back as I talk to you.
“As
military men, we were taught to be observant, so I noticed he was not at the
October 1 Independence Day parade ground in Abuja. I asked my superiors
including a general and I was told that he was out of the country. You know, it
is unusual for him not to be around at that time.
“Also,
the 2024 promotion list of soldiers which was completed a few weeks back is yet
to be signed by the COAS. I was told that the Chief of Administration cannot do
it because it will escalate the COAS’s absence. Some of my subordinates who are
due for promotion are already grumbling.”
Meanwhile,
the Nigerian Army spokesman, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, however, told the
press that the army chief was on leave and entitled to it after working “so
hard for the country”.
He
said, “If the Chief of Army staff travels out after working for many years, are
you saying it’s wrong for him to travel out when he is on leave? So if you work
for years and go for a few weeks’ vacation or something, does it mean you are
sick? So because we are in uniform, we should die working?
“For
instance, I have worked for almost seven years, I haven’t gone on leave. I
didn’t go on leave till I went to bury my mum, when I was given a week-plus to
go and bury my mum.
“Because
we are in uniform, we should die working? We shouldn’t have a week or two for
vacation. Is it even abnormal for someone to go for (medical) check-up? Must
you even be sick before going for medical checkup? Are we not supposed to
evaluate ourselves?
“We
need to understand some things; for the past seven years, I haven’t gone on
leave. It’s a call to national duty. People need to understand the sacrifices
soldiers are making.
“There
was a point that I came to my home and my children didn’t even know me."
“I
don’t think it’s out of place for myself or any other person, even if it’s a
top brass in the army to travel out or in any of the services to travel out for
rest or do a medical checkup or something. I don’t think there should be any
fuss about that,” the army spokesperson added.
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