The Nigerian Army has debunked reports circulating that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has died.
Several online reports, originating from a social media post by one Jackson Ude announcing the death of the Army chief, had gone viral.
Ude claimed that Lagbaja had died of cancer 48 hours ago but did not disclose the hospital.
The post read, “The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has died. Lagbaja died in an undisclosed hospital overseas nearly 48hrs ago from a stage three Cancer, according to a senior Government official.
” The death of the Chief of Army staff has been kept secret because of intense lobbying by some Generals who want to take the position.”
But, reacting to the post on its verified X handle on Sunday, the Nigerian Army described the viral report as fake news.
However, sources at the Army Headquarters confirmed to our correspondent that the Army Chief was critically ill but not dead as being bandied around.
One of the sources said, “COAS is not dead. He is only critically ill at the moment. We should be praying for him at this critical time and not spreading rumours that he died.”
Another source said the Army Chief was on official leave and out of the country to treat himself.
“He is out of the country for treatment. And I have not heard of his death from anyone around him. There is no way such information could be hidden,” the source added.
