I Regret Obtaining NDA Form for Late Lt. General Lagbaja

The head of the Lagbaja family, Pa Tajudeen Lagbaja, has expressed profound regret over obtaining the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) form for his late nephew, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, who served as Chief of Army Staff before his recent death. Reflecting on his nephew’s untimely passing, Pa Lagbaja shared that, had he foreseen this loss, he would have discouraged Taoreed from pursuing a military career.

Speaking during a family gathering in their hometown of Ilobu, Osun State, Pa Lagbaja, the younger brother of the late COAS’s father, conveyed the family’s deep sorrow. “If I had known he would die before me, I would not have obtained the NDA form for him,” he said. “But it is destiny. The death that took Taoreed should have taken me instead.”

Lt. General Lagbaja’s passing has left a significant void in both his family and the Ilobu community, where he had been a key contributor. Pa Lagbaja recounted the late COAS’s commitment to local welfare, noting his efforts to construct boreholes in his father’s compound and other community areas to improve water access. “We can never forget him,” Pa Lagbaja stated. “His death is shocking, yet I give thanks to God. Everyone born must die.”

Amidst the grief, some family members voiced suspicions that Lt. General Lagbaja’s death may be linked to a lingering family land dispute. The conflict, which began in 2023, involved the Nigerian Army’s plans to establish a hospital in Ilobu, sparking concerns among locals.

Despite the sorrow and unresolved questions, Pa Lagbaja accepted the situation as fate. Reflecting on the family’s loss, he remarked, “All the promises he made to me have hit a brick wall. He always brought hope to our family.” While mourning, the family remains grateful for the legacy Lt. General Lagbaja leaves behind.