Family Head of late Lagbaja expresses regret for obtaining NDA form for him after his death – Crime Channels
Family Head of late Lagbaja expresses regret for obtaining NDA form for him after his death
The head of the family of the late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, Pa Tajudeen Lagbaja, has expressed deep regret over obtaining the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) form for his late relative.
Reflecting on the tragic loss, Pa Lagbaja stated that had he known the course of events would lead to such a premature death, he would never have pursued the application for the NDA on the deceased’s behalf.
Other members of the Lagbaja family, still reeling from the shock of the untimely death of their distinguished son, have raised concerns that the tragedy may have been linked to sinister forces.
They suggested that the late General’s death could be the result of a malevolent act stemming from a longstanding land dispute in his ancestral hometown of Ilobu, in the Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State.
The family’s suspicions are not without context. It was in 2023 that a dispute erupted in Ilobu when the Nigerian Army, in its plan to establish a hospital in the community, became embroiled in tensions with local stakeholders.
This controversy has since fueled speculation within the family that the untimely death of Lt. General Lagbaja might be connected to these unresolved issues.
In an interview with The Nation, Pa Tajudeen Lagbaja, who is the younger brother of the late COAS’s father, revealed that he had personally completed the NDA application process for his nephew, who went on to serve with distinction in the Nigerian Army before his tragic passing.
The distraught family head said, “Everyone who is born must die. We give glory to God. The year that I obtained NDA form for him, if I had known that he would die before me, I would not have done so. I regret obtaining the form for him. But it is destiny.
“The death that killed Taoreed Lagbaja ought to take me. I took him as one of my children. We are greatly bereaved, we are sad. He constructed a borehole in his father’s compound and other places in the community.
“We can never forget him, his death is so shocking to us. I have accepted the fate, all the promises he made to me have hit a brick wall. He always gave us hope in the family, despite the sorrow, I give thanks to God.”
In a separate statement, a relative of the late Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, who preferred to be identified as Madam Toyin, alleged that his death may have been the result of dark forces linked to a land dispute in his community.
She suggested that the tragic passing could be connected to the ongoing tensions surrounding a local land issue in Ilobu, his hometown.
Lt. General Lagbaja passed away on Tuesday night in Lagos after a brief illness, a loss confirmed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy.
President Tinubu expressed his deep sorrow over the death of the late military leader, describing him as a “dedicated servant of the nation” who served with distinction for over three decades.
The president highlighted Lagbaja’s invaluable contributions to Nigeria’s security and military efforts throughout his career.
Born on February 28, 1968, Lt. General Lagbaja was appointed Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2023. Over the course of his illustrious career, he held several pivotal leadership roles in key military operations, including Operation Zaki in Benue, Lafiya Dole in Borno, and Forest Sanity in Kaduna and Niger States.
A highly regarded graduate of the U.S. Army War College, where he earned a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies, Lagbaja was known for his sharp strategic mind and his unwavering commitment to enhancing the security landscape of Nigeria.
He leaves behind his wife, Mariya, and their two children.
