By Chris Ewokor in Abuja and Danai Nesta Kupemba in London | BBC News |

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has announced that Nigeria’s army chief, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, has died at the age of 56 after a “period of illness”.

He died in Lagos on Tuesday night. The exact details of his illness were not shared.

In a statement shared on X apart from Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu expressed his “sincerest condolences” to the family of General Lagbaja.

“President Tinubu wishes eternal peace to Lieutenant General Lagbaja and honors his significant contributions to the country,” the statement said. expressions were used.

It was stated that his death was a significant loss for the Nigerian Armed Forces, which “played important roles in numerous internal security operations”.

The Chief of Defense Staff is the highest-ranking military officer in the Nigerian army.

General Lagbaja was appointed to the position in June 2023, shortly after President Tinubu took office.

He was frequently away from duty – sometimes out of the country to receive treatment for an undisclosed illness – and had not been seen in public for some time, raising concerns.

During his short tenure, Nigeria witnessed an increase in attacks and kidnappings by Islamist Boko Haram militants, especially in the northern and central parts of the country.

This includes the mass abduction of more than 280 children in Kuriga earlier this year.

Gen Lagbaja is survived by his wife Mariya and two children.