The Nigerian Army on Sunday reacted to reports claiming that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, is dead.

An X user, Jackson Ude, had claimed that Labaja died of cancer in an undisclosed hospital overseas about 48 hours ago.

Ude claimed that Lagbaja’s death had been kept silent due to intense lobbying by some top army generals.

He posted: “CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF DIES OF CANCER.” The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has died. Lagbaja died in an undisclosed hospital overseas nearly 48 hours ago from stage three cancer, according to a senior government official.

“The death of the Chief of Army Staff has been kept secret because of intense lobbying by some generals who want to take the position.

“Lagbaja, born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Osun State, was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023, as the 27th Chief of Army Staff.”

But reacting, the Nigerian Army dismissed the claim, which it tagged “false.”

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Onyema Nwachukwu, had said Labaja was on leave.

Nwachukwu said the Army Chief of Policy and Plans, Major General Abdulsalami Ibrahim, would act in Lagbaja’s stead.