Full list of Chief of Army Staff who died in office

Nigeria is mourning the unexpected passing of Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, who died on Tuesday in Lagos following a brief illness.

His death, just a year after his appointment by President Bola Tinubu, represents a significant loss for Nigeria’s military leadership.

Lagbaja’s passing marks the third instance of a Chief of Army Staff dying in office, underscoring a history of tragic losses within the nation’s top military ranks.

Previous Chiefs of Army Staff Who Died in Office:

Joseph Akahan (August 1967)

Appointed at 30 years old, Joseph Akahan led the Army during the Nigerian Civil War. After a frontline visit in Nsukka, he tragically perished when his helicopter crashed en route to Makurdi, killing him and two pilots.

Ibrahim Attahiru (May 21, 2021)

Appointed in January 2021, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru replaced Tukur Buratai amid security challenges. Sadly, he and ten others died in a plane crash while en route from Abuja to Kaduna on official duty.

Taoreed Lagbaja (November 5, 2024)

An alumnus of the U.S. Army War College, Lagbaja joined the Nigerian Army in 1992 and led several critical internal security operations, such as Operation ZAKI in Benue and Lafiya Dole in Borno. He was appointed Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2023. His passing was confirmed by Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga. He has been succeeded by Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, his classmate at the Defence Academy.