The Nigerian Army Headquarters on Sunday dismissed the rumoured death of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, describing it as “fake news.”
Several online publications had reported that the COAS died of cancer at an overseas hospital barely 48 hours ago.
However, in a swift reaction, the Nigerian Army Headquarters on its official platform tagged it as “Fake News”
It urged the members of the public to disregard the fake news.
The Army Headquarters had earlier in the day debunked various insinuations and contradictions in social media about the health condition of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, saying that the COAS was currently on annual vacation
In a statement made available to Defence Correspondents in Abuja by the Director of Army Public Relations, Major Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, the Service declared that there was no leadership vacuum in the army as all operational and administrative issues were on course, saying that” all necessary protocols are in place for the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim, to act on his behalf
While reacting to the insinuations in some social media platforms, Nwachukwu explained that some of these stories, rumours, and innuendos about happenings in the Nigerian Army are laughable and deserve no further reference.
He added that others have bordered on pure mischief calculated to cause panic and confusion within the rank and file, as well as the general public
According to him, “Specifically, many insinuations about personnel postings, promotions, and even training activities have been raised vis-a-vis the official leave of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
“There have even been insinuations that there is a leadership vacuum, with officers confused about what to do. Nothing can be farther from the truth.
“To be very clear, the Nigerian Army is a highly structured establishment with well-laid-out procedures and processes for dealing with different circumstances. Before proceeding on leave, 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 is not peculiar to the NA as there have been instances where unforeseen human frailty kept service chiefs away for about three months, and their Chiefs of Policy and Plans held sway in their absence.
“Claims of leadership vacuum in the NA presently is, therefore, mere speculation, as all routine and scheduled activities of the Service are on course.
“Indeed, in line with its Forecast of Events for 2024, the Nigerian Army recently conducted the Captain-Major Practical Promotion Examination in Akure.
“Subsequently and in line with extant procedures, the Commander Training and Doctrine Command, Major General Kevin Aligbe, announced the result after due authorisation by the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), who currently answers for the Chief of Army Staff in his absence on leave and medical checkup abroad.”
He further added that “the Master Warrant Officer to Army Warrant Officer Promotion Exercise is currently ongoing in Jos. This follows a similar exercise held for Warrant Officer to Master Warrant Officer (WO-MWO) in Kaduna.
According to him, “rhe results of these exercises are expected to be released in the coming days, pending final reconciliation between the respective Corps and the Army Headquarters Department of Personnel Management.
“Contrary to the insinuation that the absence of the COAS occasioned by his leave, has caused undue delay in the release of the result of the WO-MWO promotion exercise, the NA wishes to clarify that it has never been the practice for the COAS to sign postings or promotions for both officers and soldiers in the NA.
“The appropriate departmental chiefs perform these functions routinely. These Departmental Chiefs, demonstrating their unwavering commitment, are fully carrying out their responsibilities in line with the COAS Command Philosophy.
“The Army Headquarters, therefore, enjoins the general public to remain confident in the NA and be assured that the Service remains on top of the security situations in the country and is ever ready to defend Nigeria against any aggression on its land territory,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Maj Gen Onyema Nwachukwu reiterated that the Army Headquarters thanked all well-meaning Nigerians who have shown genuine concern about Lt Gen TA Lagbaja and have continued to pray for him adding that, “The Army Headquarters assures Nigerians and the international community that all land-related training, operational, and administrative activities are on course and that the COPP(A) is firmly and effectively running the affairs of the Service pending the return of the COAS.”
