Army, Support Group Honour Lagbaja, Urge Sustained War on Insecurity

The Nigerian Army and the Prayer and Support for the Nigerian Armed Forces and other Security Agencies (PSNAFSA) on Saturday renewed calls for an end to insecurity in the country as they marked the second memorial of former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.

The solemn ceremony, held at the Maria Lagbaja Event Centre inside the TA Lagbaja Cantonment, Ikeja, Lagos, brought together senior military and paramilitary officers, family members, friends, and civil society representatives. Palliatives were distributed to widows of fallen soldiers in a gesture reflecting the late general’s well-known concern for the welfare of troops and their families.

Speaking on behalf of the General Officer Commanding, 81 Division, Major General Adebayo Babalola, the Commander of 81 Division Garrison, Brigadier General Ahmed Getso, described Lagbaja as a distinguished soldier and patriot whose career was defined by courage, professional excellence, and unwavering commitment to national service.

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He recalled that Lagbaja was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 39th Regular Course in 1987 and commissioned into the Infantry Corps in 1992. His career featured a series of command, staff, and instructional appointments before President Bola Tinubu appointed him the 27th Chief of Army Staff in June 2023.

Getso noted that during his tenure, Lagbaja worked to strengthen the Army’s operational capabilities, deepen professionalism, improve troop welfare, and sustain operations against the various threats to national security.

The Commander of 9 Brigade, Brigadier General Ayokunle Owolabi, said the memorial offered serving personnel an opportunity to reflect on the late general’s legacy and to uphold the values of discipline, operational readiness, loyalty, and selfless service that he embodied.

Owolabi highlighted Lagbaja’s participation in key internal security operations, including Operations Zaki, Lafiya Dole, Udoka, and Forest Sanity. He stressed that the sacrifices of fallen soldiers and the families left behind must never be forgotten.

“Behind every fallen hero is a family who sacrificed and lost. They deserve the Army’s continued prayers, compassion, and support,” he said.

Convener of PSNAFSA, Ambassador Mary Abayomi-Fatile, paid glowing tribute to Lagbaja, describing him as a father figure who consistently placed the nation’s interests above personal considerations.

“General Lagbaja’s tenure was defined by courage, patriotism, and a resolute commitment to restoring peace across Nigeria. We chose to honour him because he loved the military with all his heart and served his fatherland with sincerity and passion,” she said.

She expressed the hope that the values he represented would continue to inspire serving personnel and contribute to lasting security for the country. “As we remember his good works, may the seeds of sacrifice he planted bring forth lasting peace. Let insecurity become a thing of the past in our dear country,” Fatile added.

The event featured prayers for Lagbaja and other fallen heroes alongside the distribution of palliatives to widows.

Lagbaja was born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Osun State. He died in Lagos on November 5, 2024, at the age of 56 after a period of illness.

President Tinubu announced his passing the following day. He was posthumously honoured with the national award of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) and laid to rest with full military honours at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja. He was succeeded by Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede.

The Ikeja Cantonment was later renamed the TA Lagbaja Cantonment in his honour, a lasting institutional recognition of his service. On the same day as the Lagos memorial, the Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Ashiru Olaniyan, appealed to President Tinubu to further immortalise the late general by establishing a military institution or strategic infrastructure in his hometown of Ilobu, Osun State.

The Army and PSNAFSA used the second anniversary to reaffirm their commitment to supporting the families of those who paid the ultimate price in the defence of the nation while urging renewed collective effort to end insecurity.