The Nigerian Army has confirmed that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, is alive, dismissing rumours spread by bloggers and some online publications suggesting otherwise.
Earlier, the Army addressed claims of a leadership gap, affirming that Lieutenant General Lagbaja was on leave and undergoing a medical check-up abroad. During this period, Major General Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim, the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), is acting as the interim leader to ensure the continuity of military operations.
In a statement, the Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, stated that rumours about a leadership vacuum within the Army were unfounded. He assured the public that all routine and scheduled activities of the Army were proceeding as planned, despite the temporary absence of the COAS.
Despite these reassurances, some online platforms have escalated the false narrative, even falsely claiming the death of the COAS. The Army criticised these publications, highlighting the potential harm caused by spreading fake news.