By Lt. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, Nigeria’s army chief who led the military through a critical phase of its long-running battle against Islamic extremists, died Tuesday night in Lagos following an illness, President Bola Tinubu announced Wednesday. He was 56.
Lagbaja, who assumed leadership of Africa’s largest army in June 2023, had not been seen in public for nearly two months, prompting speculation about his health that the army initially denied. Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede was appointed acting army chief last week.
His death comes at a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s fight against one of Africa’s most persistent insurgencies. The Boko Haram conflict, now in its fifteenth year, continues to challenge Nigeria’s northeastern region, where the military struggles against well-armed extremist forces.
During his brief tenure, Lagbaja prioritized reforming the army’s image and operations, promising to instill greater discipline and professionalism in an institution frequently criticized for civilian rights violations and extrajudicial killings in conflict zones.
While militant attacks have decreased in frequency over recent years, security analysts note that extremist groups continue recruitment efforts and seek to strengthen their position in the Lake Chad basin region. The Nigerian military, historically underfunded and outgunned, faces ongoing challenges in containing the expansion of militant influence.
“General Lagbaja served Nigeria with unwavering dedication during a critical period in our nation’s security challenges,” President Tinubu said in a statement. “His commitment to reforming and strengthening our armed forces will be remembered as part of his enduring legacy.”
The leadership transition occurs as Nigeria’s military confronts multiple security challenges beyond the northeastern insurgency, including banditry in the northwest and separatist tensions in the southeast.
apnews
