So far, we’ve dug out a list of Chiefs of Army Staff who died in office in Nigeria and they are three. Below are the details:
1. Major General Joseph Akahan (August 1967)
Joseph Akahan, a 30-year-old Army Chief, died in a helicopter crash while returning to Makurdi from his hometown of Gboko.
2. Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru (May 21, 2021)
Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru died in a plane crash en route to Kaduna, alongside 10 others, just months after he was appointed Chief of Army Staff.
3. Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja (November 5, 2024)
Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, appointed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023, passed away, leaving behind a legacy of distinguished service in various operations and a commitment to military excellence.