on Friday exclusively revealed that, in the wake of his illness, senior military commanders have started to vie for the role of Chief of Army Staff in Nigeria.

The Nigerian Army has denied rumours that Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, has passed away.

On Sunday, a number of sources said that the Army chief had passed away from cancer.

A journalist posted the following on X on Sunday: “Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, passed away. A top government source stated that Lagbaja passed away from stage three cancer over 48 hours ago at an unidentified facility abroad.

The Nigerian Army, however, has called the story phoney.

the Army leader is still alive as of Sunday.

Following his illness, senior military commanders have reportedly started to vie for the role of Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, according to an exclusive story published by DAILYPULSE on Friday.

It was discovered that retired generals were lobbying politicians and powerful retired generals to replace Lagbaja because of his health.

Lagbaja, who was born in Ilobu, Osun State, on February 28, 1968, was named the 27th Chief of Army Staff by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023.

On June 23, 2023, he became the Chief of Army Staff, succeeding Faruk Yahaya.

The Chief of Army Staff answers to the Chief of Defence Staff, who answers to the Minister of Defence, who answers to Nigeria’s President.

SaharaReporters exclusively revealed last Tuesday that the Army General’s family had taken him overseas to take care of his medical requirements.

DAILYPULSE was informed by sources that his illness was “strange.”

“It has been many days since the Chief of Army Staff was last seen. For the past three weeks, he has not been sighted at any military event or at Army headquarters. He was rushed to the hospital and, as I can attest, is rather ill. But one of the sources claimed that his family had made arrangements for him to be sent abroad for medical care.

Since they now have no one to report to, the Major Generals are operating under the direction of the COAS, who is a leader. Anyone can get sick, but someone has to take responsibility for it. Since I’ve known him since our time in Makurdi, Benue State, I hope he recovers quickly. He was a captain at the time, and we were both young officers.

Additionally, a Major had stated, “I noticed he wasn’t at the October 1 Independence Day parade ground in Abuja. As military men, we were taught to be observant.” When I questioned my superiors, one of whom was a general, I was informed that he was not in the nation. You know, it’s odd that he wasn’t present at that particular moment.

Lagbaja’s health has deteriorated, according to sources who spoke with SaharaReporters on Friday, raising serious concerns within the military. They claimed that the Chief of Army Staff’s failing health had rendered him unable of performing his duties.

“He is now capable, but his health is rapidly declining. He is confined to his sickbed and, like someone who has hearing loss, is unable to hear what others are saying. We’re hoping for a speedy recovery for him,” one of the insiders stated.

“There is a really dangerous sickness, but at this point the Army officials are unable to reveal it. General Lagbaja was ready to step down due to the health problem much earlier.

Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Nigerian Army’s director of public relations, thanked “all well-meaning Nigerians who have shown genuine concern about Lt Gen TA Lagbaja and have continued to pray for him” in a statement released on Saturday.

Before going on leave, Nwachukwu stated that “necessary protocols were put in place for the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim, to act on behalf of the COAS, while he is away.” This was in response to claims that Lagbaja’s absence had left a void.

“As all regular and scheduled activities of the Service are proceeding as planned, claims of a leadership vacuum in the NA at this time are therefore purely conjectural,” he stated.