Metro
Miltary Top Brass Receives Body of Late COAS Lagbaja, Mounts Guard of Honour
The body of late Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, has arrived in Abuja where he will be buried on Friday.
The Nigerian Air Force plane NAF 918 carrying the body of the late CoAS landed at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, at around 12:15pm.
The remains of the late CoAS left the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos around 11am.
The military top brass were on ground to receive the remains of the late CoAS in Abuja, with military band playing to the loudest.
Upon arrival at the Abuja airport, a guard of honor was accorded to the body of the late CoAS and was taken down this red carpet in full view of Nigeria’s military top brass.
Lagbaja’s body will be interned on Friday at the national military cemetery, Abuja.
The CoAS died last week Tuesday, according to the presidency.
Lagbaja passed away in Lagos after a period of illness. However, the illness was not disclosed.
During this difficult time, President Bola Tinubu expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family and the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Born on February 28, 1968, Lagbaja served as the Chief of Army Staff for one year and four months following his appointment to the position by President Tinubu in June 2023.
His military career began when he enrolled in the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1987. On September 19, 1992, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps as a member of the 39th Regular Course.
Lt. General Lagbaja also served as a platoon commander in the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion.
He played pivotal roles in numerous internal security operations, including Operation ZAKI in Benue State, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in South East Nigeria, and Operation Forest Sanity across Kaduna and Niger states.
An alumnus of the prestigious U.S. Army War College, he earned a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies, demonstrating his dedication to professional growth and excellence in military leadership.
Lt. General Lagbaja is survived by his beloved wife, Mariya, and their two children.
Friends and family members of a newly wed lady are still perplexed over her tragic demise on her wedding day.
The tragic incident occurred in Douala, Cameroon on October 26, 2024.
The lady, identified as Sorelle Emmanuella Kamga, was joyfully performing at her own wedding reception when suddenly she slumped, and was later declared dead by medics.
News of her sudden death went viral on October 27 when the video of her performing with her bridesmaids and husband spraying money at her circulated on social media platforms.
Invitees were pictured expressing shock as Sorelle, adorned in her beautiful wedding party dress, slumped while singing for her spouse.
A photographer who was covering the event, said the song she was singing is that of Ivorian artiste, Roseline Layo, titled: “Mogo Fariman.”
The celebrant had chosen the song to announce the cutting of the wedding cake, which ceremony did not see the light of day, as her sudden death marred the wedding reception.
The reception hall of Johannesburg Hotel, where the wedding reception was taking place, suddenly went cold after the sad and shocking incident.
The photographer recounted: “When it was time to cut the wedding cake, the bride went out to change her attire with her husband.
“On return to the hall, she took the mic and started singing for her husband.
“She called her husband to join her on stage.
“He moved towards her with a cigar in his mouth and began spraying money on her.
“First, a ten thousand note, a second ten thousand note…when the man threw the third one, that was when she slumped before him, and that was all.
“We saw something really serious at the hotel that Saturday.
“People immediately rushed to rescue the victim.
“She was rushed to the Adlucem Hospital in Akwa-Nord.
“There, the medics on service referred her to the Douala General Hospital.
“It was at the General Hospital that she was clinically declared dead.”
The photographer said immediately the news of the bride’s demise was announced, the atmosphere at the reception turned gloomy.
Those who had come to celebrate the wedding suddenly became mourners.
Three of the guests were said to have collapsed after receiving news of the bride’s sudden death.
A few hours to the sad development, the now late Sorelle was all joyful, feasting and coordinating the decoration details of her wedding.
Many could not imagine that the day would end without her.
According to family sources, Manuella Kamga and her spouse, Émile, spent seven years together and had three children.
They had planned their wedding in 2020, but due to COVID-19, it was postponed.
A relative said: “This year, we rescheduled the wedding; the dowry was paid on Friday, then yesterday (Saturday), it was the civil wedding.
“It was during the reception that the tragedy occurred in the middle of the hall.
“My little cousin leaves a husband and three pretty little girls, having worn her wedding ring just for a few hours.
“What we often read on Facebook – that people die on their wedding day, has also hit our family.
“Rest in peace, Sorelle Manuella!”
The recent demolition of homes in the Ruga settlement along Airport Road in Abuja has sparked public outcry, as residents took to the streets on Friday, demanding that Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike be held accountable for the destruction of their community.
The protesters led by lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju, accused Wike’s task force, known as “Operation Sweep,” of heavy-handed tactics that have left scores of residents homeless.
Adeyanju condemned the demolition, highlighting that homes were burned and property worth millions was destroyed.
“There is no justification for this demolition. We appeal to President Bola Tinubu to consider the plight of the displaced residents, who are barely surviving,” Adeyanju said.
Several of those affected, he explained, have already been forced out of their homes in northern states such as Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe due to insecurity, leaving them in a precarious situation.
“These demolitions are excessive,” he continued, “and Mr. President needs to act to prevent further harassment of the people. We are sounding a warning to those in government that peace is only achievable if the poor are allowed to live peacefully. When the poor cannot sleep, it affects everyone.”
Vincent Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, joined the protests and criticised the government for ignoring the needs of the less fortunate.
“This is strange,” he remarked. “The repercussions of this will have a heavy toll on Abuja. These people have been rendered homeless amid the ongoing hardship in the country. They are evicting these people without compensating them. It is sad that the elite think the poor are not part of society.”
The protesters urged President Tinubu to halt further demolition and prevent land reallocation that would favour the wealthy.
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