14th November, 2024
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Ahead of the burial scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, the remains of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, arrived in Abuja on Thursday.
Lagbaja’s remains had earlier departed Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos aboard NAF918 at 10:14 a.m. for Abuja.
As a mark of respect, senior military officers formed a guard of honour upon the arrival of Lagbaja’s remains at the airport.
The farewell ceremony in Lagos was attended by dignitaries, including Lagos State Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu represented by his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Tayo Ayinde, and the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, represented by White Cap chiefs.
The Chief of Air staff, Air Marshal Hassan Balla Abubakar, and the Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede were at the event.
The remains of Lagbaja who will be buried at the Military Cemetery on Friday arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport precisely at 12:16 p.m. on Thursday.
According to a statement by the Nigerian Army, the funeral rites of Lagbaja will commence on Thursday with a Service of Songs at the Army Headquarters Garrison Parade Ground, Mogadishu Cantonment Abuja.
The funeral service is slated for Friday at the National Christian Centre to be followed by interment at the military cemetery on Friday afternoon.
The death of Lagbaja was announced by President Bola Tinubu in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, last Wednesday, 5 November .
Lagbaja, who was the 23rd COAS, passed on at the age of 56 after a brief illness.
President Tinubu had ordered a state burial for the late COAS.
Born on Feb. 28, 1968, Lagbaja was appointed Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2023, by Tinubu.
The Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru, and his State counterpart, Bello Matawalle, had a week ago led service chiefs to pay a condolence visit to the family of the late COAS
The service chiefs are the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar and Chief of Defence Intelligence, Man.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye.
Also on the visit was the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Dr Ibrahim Kana.
The acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, received the visitors at the Flag Staff House, official residence of the COAS at Nigerian Barracks, Abuja.
The ministers and the service chiefs took turn to pen down their individual condolence messages in the condolence register opened at the residence.
(NAN)
