This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c238gmp298po
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Nigeria's army chief dies aged 56 | Nigeria's army chief dies aged 56 |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Taoreed Lagbaja was appointed Nigeria's chief of army staff in June 2023 | |
| Nigeria's army chief Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja has died after a "period of illness" aged 56, President Bola Tinubu has announced. | |
| He died on Tuesday night in Lagos. The exact details of his illness were not shared. | He died on Tuesday night in Lagos. The exact details of his illness were not shared. |
| In a statement shared on X, external by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu expressed his "heartfelt condolences" to Gen Lagbaja’s family. | In a statement shared on X, external by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu expressed his "heartfelt condolences" to Gen Lagbaja’s family. |
| "President Tinubu wishes Lt General Lagbaja eternal peace and honors his significant contributions to the nation," the statement read. | "President Tinubu wishes Lt General Lagbaja eternal peace and honors his significant contributions to the nation," the statement read. |
| His passing marked a significant loss for the Nigerian Armed Forces, where he "played pivotal roles in numerous internal security operations", it said. | |
| Chief of army staff is the highest-ranking military officer in the Nigerian army. | |
| Gen Lagbaja was appointed to the position in June 2023, not long after President Tinubu took office. | |
| He was often away from duty - sometimes out of the country receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness - and had not seen in public for some time, raising concerns. | |
| During his short tenure, Nigeria saw an increase in attacks by Islamist Boko Haram militants and incidents of kidnapping, especially in the north and central parts of the country. | |
| This includes the mass abduction of more than 280 children in Kuriga earlier this year. | |
| Gen Lagbaja is survived by his wife, Mariya, and their two children. | Gen Lagbaja is survived by his wife, Mariya, and their two children. |
| More Nigeria stories from the BBC: | More Nigeria stories from the BBC: |
| Is Nigeria on the right track after a year of Tinubu? | Is Nigeria on the right track after a year of Tinubu? |
| The Nigerian professor who makes more money welding | The Nigerian professor who makes more money welding |
| Should I stay or should I go? The dilemma for young Nigerians | Should I stay or should I go? The dilemma for young Nigerians |
| Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent. | Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent. |
| Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, external, on Facebook at BBC Africa, external or on Instagram at bbcafrica, external | Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, external, on Facebook at BBC Africa, external or on Instagram at bbcafrica, external |