A renewed call for lasting peace and an end to insecurity in Nigeria has featured prominently at the second memorial service of former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), late Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, with the Nigerian Army and the Prayer and Support for the Nigerian Armed Forces and other Security Agencies (PSNAFSA) urging the military and Nigerians to sustain the values for which the late general stood.
The call formed the central message at the remembrance held at the Maria Lagbaja Event Centre, TA Lagbaja Cantonment, Ikeja, Lagos, where military and paramilitary officers, family members, friends and civil society organisations gathered to celebrate the life and service of the late Army Chief.
Beyond the tributes and prayers for his repose, the event provided an opportunity to reflect on the country’s security challenges, the sacrifices of military personnel and the need to sustain support for families of soldiers who paid the supreme price in the service of the nation.
The memorial, attended by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Adebayo Babalola, also featured the distribution of palliatives to widows of fallen heroes.
Speaking on behalf of the GOC, the Commander, 81 Division Garrison, Brigadier General Ahmed Getso, described Lagbaja as a distinguished soldier, exceptional leader and patriot whose life was defined by courage, selfless service and unwavering commitment to the Nigerian Army and the nation.
He said although the late general had departed, his contributions to the Nigerian Army and the country remained indelibly etched in the nation’s institutional history.
According to him, Lagbaja’s military career was a remarkable demonstration of dedication, professional excellence and commitment to duty.
Tracing his military journey, Babalola recalled that Lagbaja gained admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 39th Regular Course in 1987 and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps in 1992.
His progression through various command, staff and instructional appointments, he noted, reflected his professional competence, operational experience and exemplary leadership, culminating in his appointment as Chief of Army Staff.
As COAS, Babalola said, Lagbaja demonstrated a clear commitment to strengthening the Army’s operational capabilities, enhancing professionalism, improving troop welfare and sustaining the fight against insecurity across the country.
He noted that the late Army Chief’s commitment to the military and the country’s security remained a source of inspiration to serving personnel, particularly at a time Nigeria continued to grapple with security challenges.
In his welcome address, the Commander, 9 Brigade, Brigadier General Ayokunle Owolabi, said the memorial was not merely an occasion to remember a departed senior officer but an opportunity to celebrate a life of dedication, sacrifice, patriotism and exemplary military leadership.
He said the occasion offered the Army and the nation an opportunity to reflect on the enduring values Lagbaja represented and the lessons his distinguished career continued to offer.
Recalling his involvement in several internal security operations across the country, Owolabi listed Operations Zaki, Lafiya Dole, Udoka and Forest Sanity among the operations in which the late general participated.
He said the assignments reflected Lagbaja’s commitment to confronting security challenges and contributing to the restoration of peace and stability in troubled parts of the country.
His appointment as the 22nd Chief of Army Staff in June 2023, the Brigade Commander noted, marked another significant milestone in his career, as he provided leadership and strategic direction to the Nigerian Army at a critical period in the nation’s security environment.
Owolabi urged serving military personnel to sustain the values of discipline, professionalism, operational readiness, loyalty and selfless service, stressing that these were essential to the Army’s responsibility of protecting the country.
He also emphasised the need to remember the families left behind by fallen soldiers, noting that the sacrifices of military personnel came with enormous consequences for their loved ones.
“Behind every fallen hero is a family who sacrificed and lost.
They deserve the Army’s continued prayers, compassion and support,” he said.
He extended heartfelt thoughts to Lagbaja’s wife, children, relatives and all those who shared in his life and military career.
For the convener of PSNAFSA, Ambassador Mary Abayomi-Fatile, the late Army Chief represented selfless service, patriotism and a deep commitment to the security and unity of Nigeria.
Describing him as a father figure, Fatile said Lagbaja placed the nation’s interest above personal considerations and was passionate about ensuring that insecurity became a thing of the past.
She said the decision to honour him was informed by his love for the military and the sincerity with which he served the country.
General Lagbaja’s tenure was defined by courage, patriotism, and a resolute commitment to restoring peace across Nigeria. We chose to honour him because he loved the military with all his heart and served his fatherland with sincerity and passion,” she said.
Fatile prayed that the ideals for which the late Army Chief lived and served would continue to inspire members of the Armed Forces and rekindle hope for a secure and united Nigeria.
“As we remember his good works, may the seeds of sacrifice he planted bring forth lasting peace. Let insecurity become a thing of the past in our dear country,” she added.
The memorial featured special prayers for the repose of Lagbaja’s soul and other fallen heroes, while palliatives were distributed to widows of soldiers who died in the service of the nation.
The gesture, which formed part of the remembrance, highlighted the need to extend appreciation for military sacrifice beyond serving personnel to the families who continue to bear its consequences.
The event attracted dignitaries from the Armed Forces, military spouses, paramilitary agencies, civil society organisations, members of PSNAFSA, widows of fallen heroes and other well-wishers.
As tributes poured in for the late Army Chief, the gathering reinforced the message that the pursuit of lasting peace requires not only courage and commitment from the Armed Forces but also sustained attention to the welfare of military personnel and the families who stand behind them.
