President Bola Tinubu has appointed Major General Olufemi Oluyede as the Acting Chief of Army Staff following health issues affecting the incumbent, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja. The announcement was made in a statement by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday evening, confirming that Oluyede would fill the role temporarily until Lagbaja’s return.
Oluyede, 56, previously served as the 56th Commander of the Nigerian Army’s Infantry Corps in Kaduna and has been with the army since 1987. A seasoned officer, he has held numerous leadership roles and participated in various operations, including missions in Liberia and Bakassi and the counter-terrorism campaign in Nigeria’s North East, known as Operation HADIN KAI.
Recently, reports falsely claimed that Lagbaja had passed away due to cancer. However, the Nigerian Army dismissed these as rumors, with sources clarifying that Lagbaja is abroad undergoing medical treatment. The Defence Headquarters also affirmed that no such appointment had been officially made, and a statement from Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau noted that Lagbaja was still in communication with top officials.
