The Nigerian Army has refuted viral reports claiming the death of its Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.
In a strong statement released on Sunday, the Army labeled the circulating information as fake news, quelling widespread speculation fueled by a social media post.
The unverified report, which originated from a Nigerian journalist, alleged that Lt. Gen. Lagbaja had passed away due to cancer at an undisclosed overseas hospital 48 hours earlier.
The post, which quickly went viral on various platforms, read: “The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has died. Lagbaja died in an undisclosed hospital overseas nearly 48 hours ago from stage three cancer, according to a senior government official.”
It further claimed that the news of his death was being concealed due to power struggles among senior military officials.
Responding to the claims, the Nigerian Army took to its official handle on X (formerly Twitter), calling the news false and warning the public against sharing unverified information.
In its statement, the Army emphasized that Lt. Gen. Lagbaja is alive, and the viral post is nothing more than an attempt to spread disinformation.
Lt. Gen. Lagbaja, who was born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Osun State, was appointed as the 27th Chief of Army Staff by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023.
Since his appointment, he has spearheaded several key military initiatives aimed at improving the country’s security.
This denial from the Army comes amid rising concerns over the spread of fake news, which has increasingly become a challenge in Nigeria’s information space.
The Nigerian Army urged the public to verify facts before sharing sensitive information, particularly about key figures in national security.
The Army’s response has been met with relief by many, as concerns grew following the viral post.
“ Nonetheless, the incident highlights the need for caution and accountability in the dissemination of information through social media platforms.
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