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The funeral service for the late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, is ongoing at the National Christian Centre in Abuja.

The ceremony marks the start of the final rites for the military leader who passed away last week at the age of 56 after a brief illness.

Dignitaries and well-wishers present at the service, include First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who represented President Bola Tinubu. High-ranking military officials from Nigeria and other countries also attended, along with close family members, friends, government officials, and representatives of the diplomatic community.

Lagbaja, who served as the Chief of Army Staff, was appointed to the position by President Bola Tinubu on June 19, 2023. He served for only one year and four months.

The body of the late army chief arrived in Abuja on Thursday at 12:15 p.m.

During his service, Lagbaja led several key military operations critical to Nigeria’s national security. These included Operation ZAKI in Benue, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in the South East, and Operation Forest Sanity, which was carried out in Kaduna and Niger states.

Lagbaja left behind his wife, Mariya, and their two children.

According to the Director of Army Public Relations, Maj Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, he would be buried at the National Military Cemetery.