PARIS OLYMPIC GAMES
Amid tears and tributes, the body of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, was on Friday in Abuja interred.
The deceased general was buried at the National Cemetery, marking an end to two days of funeral rites that began in Lagos earlier in the week.
His body was lowered to mother earth about 4:41 pm in a ceremony that lasted two hours.
Lagbaja’s casket, draped in national green-white-green colours, arrived at the cemetery around 3 pm in a white funeral wagon after a funeral service at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.
A service of songs had preceded the interment on Thursday at the Army Headquarters Garrison Parade Ground, Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier arrived at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja for the interment of Lagbaja.
Tinubu took his seat at the venue at 3:10 pm and was joined by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The funeral rites for the late COAS began solemnly with the pallbearers placing the casket, followed by the faith service and opening prayer, the poignant last post, and a minute of silence in honour of the departed Army Chief.
Persecondnews reports that following the funeral oration, Acting Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede presented the national flag to the next of kin of the deceased.
The President, the Defence Minister, Badaru Abubakar, and the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, paid their last respects to the late Army Chief, after which the casket was lowered into the grave.
Tinubu led other dignitaries to lay wreaths in Lagbaja’s honour.
Lagbaja is survived by his beloved wife, Mariya, and their two children.
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