A family member of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, has suggested that his untimely death may have been linked to diabolical forces related to a land dispute in their hometown, Ilobu, Osun State.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Madam Toyin revealed that the general’s passing might be connected to rising tensions over a land issue that surfaced when the Nigerian Army proposed constructing a hospital in the community in 2023. The family remains in deep sorrow and shock, struggling to come to terms with the tragic loss of their beloved.
Pa Tajudeen Lagbaja, the family head, expressed regret over his decision years ago to assist his nephew in joining the Nigerian Army, recounting how he had personally obtained the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) form for the late general, a decision he now questions. He shared that Lt. General Lagbaja was more than a nephew to him, describing him as “like a son” and a source of pride and hope for the entire family.
“Everyone who is born must die. We give glory to God. If I had known he would pass before me, I would never have obtained the NDA form for him. I regret it now, though it was his destiny,” Pa Tajudeen stated with profound sorrow. “The death that took Taoreed should have taken me instead. He was a son to me. We are heartbroken and deeply saddened by this loss.”
The family elder went on to reflect on Lt. General Lagbaja’s contributions to the community, sharing how he funded a borehole for the family’s home and other locations in the area, leaving a legacy that the family will never forget.
“We are bereaved and devastated. All the hopes and promises he made to us are now unfulfilled, but despite the pain, I give thanks to God,” Pa Tajudeen said.
Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja passed away in Lagos on Tuesday night after a brief illness, leaving behind a grieving family and community members who remember him fondly.
