The Nigerian Army has dismissed the rumoured death of Taoreed Lagbaja, the chief of army staff (COAS), as fake news.

There have been public concerns about the whereabouts of the army chief.

On Sunday, Jackson Ude, an X user, made a post claiming that COAS had died of cancer in a hospital abroad.

“CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF DIES OF CANCER The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja has died,” the post reads.

“Lagbaja died in an undisclosed hospital overseas nearly 48hrs ago from a stage three Cancer, according to a senior Government official. The death of the Chief of Army staff has been kept secret because of intense lobbying by some Generals who want to take the position.

“Lagbaja, born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Osun State, was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023, as the 27th Chief of Army Staff,” Ude had tweeted at exactly 12:49pm.”

However, the army headquarters on its X handle has marked the post as fake news.

On Saturday, Onyema Nwachukwu, the army spokesman, dismissed reports suggesting there is a leadership vacuum due to Lagbaja’s absence.

Nwachukwu said Lagbaja is receiving treatment abroad, noting that Abdulsalami Ibrahim, the chief of policy and plans (army), has been acting.

Bolaji Olugbenga, the divisional police officer (DPO) in charge of the Ijanikin police station in Lagos, is dead.

Benjamin Hundeyin, the police spokesperson in Lagos, confirmed the incident to TheCable on Friday night.

“He slumped yesterday (Thursday) and died today (Friday),” Hundeyin said.

The police spokesperson did not give details of the incident, but TheCable understands that the late DPO slumped in the office and died before he could be rushed to a hospital on Thursday night.

An officer from the division who pleaded not to be named said the body of the DPO had been moved to a mortuary.

“He slumped in the office on Thursday and was quickly rushed to the hospital. But sadly, we lost him,” he said.

The Kaduna government on Friday announced a total restriction of human and vehicular movement during the LGA election in the state.

The chairmanship and councillorship election will hold on Saturday, October 19, in the 23 LGAs and 225 wards of the state.

Samuel Aruwan, overseeing commissioner for internal security and home affairs, said movement will be restricted from 6am to 7pm on the day, to ensure peaceful and orderly conduct of the election.

Aruwan added that security operatives have been deployed to ensure compliance.

“Only persons performing essential duties are exempt from this restriction and may move during the period with proper identification and clearance,” he said.

“Citizens are thus advised to refrain from actions that could disrupt public peace or affect the smooth conduct of the elections. Security agencies have been deployed to ensure enforcement and compliance.

“Members of the public are also urged to promptly report any observed acts which threaten law and order to security agencies, and not take laws into their hands.”