Tributes As Late Chief Of Army Staff Lt. General Lagbaja Is Laid To Rest.
Tears flowed and tributes poured in on Friday as the late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, was laid to rest in Abuja. The solemn ceremony marked the end of an illustrious military career spanning decades.
The burial, held at the National Cemetery in the nation’s capital, concluded two days of funeral rites that began earlier in the week in Lagos. His casket, draped in Nigeria’s green and white national colours, arrived at the cemetery at approximately 3 p.m. in a white funeral wagon, following a funeral service at the National Christian Centre in Abuja.
Dignitaries from across the nation gathered to pay their final respects. Among those present were President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Acting Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, Minister of Defence Abubakar Badaru, and other senior government officials and military leaders.
The emotional ceremony lasted over two hours, culminating at 4:41 p.m. when Lagbaja’s body was lowered into the earth.
Lt. General Lagbaja’s passing leaves a significant void in Nigeria’s military leadership. His decades-long service and dedication to the nation earned him widespread respect and admiration. As tributes poured in, many highlighted his professionalism, bravery, and commitment to national security.
The event underscored the deep sense of loss felt across the country while celebrating the legacy of a distinguished soldier who served Nigeria with honour.
