Tears and tributes flowed freely on Friday as the late Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja was laid to rest in Abuja, ending an illustrious military career that spanned decades.
The burial took place at the National Cemetery in the nation’s capital marking an end to two days of funeral rites that began in Lagos earlier in the week.
His body was lowered to Mother Earth at exactly 4:41 pm after the ceremony that lasted for over two hours.
Lagbaja’s casket, draped in Nigeria’s green and white colours, arrived at the cemetery around 3 pm in a white funeral wagon after a funeral service at the National Christian Centre in Abuja.
Several dignitaries attended the event. President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima; the Acting Chief of Army Staff Lt.Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; the Minister of Defence Abubakar Badaru and other top government officials and military brass graced the occasion.
In his eulogy, President Tinubu described the appointment of the late Lagbaja as one of his finest decisions since assuming office as Nigeria’s leader. He thereafter conferred a national honour on him.
“As an eternal symbol of our appreciation, I have granted the late Chief of Army Staff, the posthumous national honour of the Commander of the Federal Republic of the Niger (CFR),” Tinubu said, asking the military not to be demoralised by the demise of the COAS.
“Please, do not let death defeat us and I as commander-in-chief renew my pledge to you today that the country will always support you and your family,” he said.
The CDS General Musa said the demise of the COAS will not dampen the military’s resolve to fight insecurity.
He said, “To my fellow officers and men, let us use this moment to recommit ourselves to the ideas for which General Labaja stood for.
“Let us ensure that his sacrifice and service continue to guide our steps as we defend this great nation. We are going to use his passing away to resolve further to defeat all enemies of the state, wherever they are, whether within or outside.”
On his part, the acting COAS Oluyede said Lagbaja was instrumental to his career, narrating how he nominated him for a national honour even on a sick bed.
“A caring brother who on his sick bed rather than nominating himself for a national honour instead nominated my good self even before the idea of an acting arrangement came up,” he said.
Friday’s burial was the culmination of funeral rites for the late Lagbaja who died after a brief illness in Lagos on Tuesday, November 5th.
Before the late COAS’ interment, there was a service of songs the previous day at the Army Headquarters Garrison Parade Ground, Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja.
The Nigerian Air Force airplane carrying Lagbaja’s body arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja – from Lagos – around 12:15 pm on Thursday.
Lagbaja was born on February 28, 1968. He was the Chief of Army Staff for one year and four months following his nomination for the position by President Tinubu in June 2023.
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