The service of songs for the late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, was filled with heartfelt eulogies at the parade ground of the Army Headquarters Garrison, Mogadishu Barracks, Asokoro, Abuja.
One of his colleagues, the Commander of Training and Doctrine Command, Maj.-General Kelvin Aligbe, praised the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, as an extraordinary military leader.
He noted that it was no surprise that Lagbaja was the only officer to command a battalion twice.
Aligbe spoke on behalf of the 39 Regular Course at the service of songs held in honour of the late COAS in Abuja on Thursday evening.
Reflecting on their shared journey, Aligbe recalled their commissioning as part of the 39 Regular Course on September 12, 1987, where 199 officer cadets began their training to join the armed forces.
He added that from the beginning, Lagbaja stood out as a natural leader.
He said, “On September 12, 1987, I, then officer cadet Taoreed Lagbaja, and 199 others assembled for training as members of the 39 Regular Course. We trained and were commissioned together into the armed forces. From the beginning, he led with no doubt. He was, first and foremost, an operational commander.
“Little wonder that, while commands in the services are sometimes difficult to come by, he had the privilege of being the only person, if my memory serves me right, to have commanded a battalion at two different times. He commanded brigades at two different times. He was a general officer commanding at two different times.”
He urged the military community to embody the values of service and dedication that Lagbaja held dear.
Aligbe said, “He was primed for the operation he led, through which, even though they say soldiers don’t die, his memories fade away. The only way my course mates, other members of the armed forces, officers, and soldiers he left behind can truly honour his memory is to continue what he believed in. He believed in the indivisibility of Nigeria.
“He believed in service. He gave everything; at the risk of sounding immodest, I don’t know if we gave him enough.”
Speaking on behalf of the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association, Bilikisu Ibrahim described Lagbaja as a man of faith whose spirit was rooted in devotion and conviction.
She said, “To those he served, he was a pillar of protection, an unwavering beacon amidst storms of insanity and threats.
“But beyond our soldiers, he was a man of faith, a spirit rooted in devotion and conviction. In the trials of duty, he held fast to his spirituality, finding in prayer the fortitude that guided him through the darkest battles. His beliefs were his anchor, a quiet force that strengthened him as he led, sacrificing for the nation he loved.
“His life was not only a mission of arms but of the heart. A journey where faith met duty and courage met compassion. As we gather, hands held in solace and grief, we recall the gentleness in his smile, the depth of his wisdom, and the vision with which he led armies and inspired peace.”
The Global President of St. Charles Old Boys Association, Tade Adekunle, who read a poem written by a Senior Secondary school two student of the school, described Lagbaja as an immortal hero.
He said, “The immortal hero, a militant heart, now still and cold. The nation mourns, both young and old. A warrior’s soul, a poet’s might. On the field of faith, you shone so bright.
“With every piece of bread, you shielded our motherland. Leading brave men with a steadfast hand, now empty. Blade of honour now laid down.
“Its cannon’s cry extinguished, yet legend remains. A warrior’s pulse now stilled in time. On the altar of freedom, you laid your life, your sacrifice, our beacon of hope.”
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