- Traditionalists in Osun State claim the late Chief of Army Staff’s death was unnatural, seeking spiritual rites for vengeance and justice
- Community leaders urge the federal government to release Lagbaja’s body for burial, describing his death as a significant loss
Some traditionalists in Osun State have claimed that the death of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, was unnatural.
Spiritualists from his hometown of Ilobu, in Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun, have declared that the spirit of the late army chief can be invoked for vengeance against those responsible for his premature death.
A traditionalist, Awopegba Ifagbemi, spoke with Sunday Tribune on Saturday, stating that the community is still mourning Lagbaja’s loss and has pleaded with the federal government to release his body so that spiritual rites can be performed.
He revealed that local traditionalists had already met to plan how these rites would be carried out, though he declined to elaborate further on the details.
A community leader, Alhaji Dauda Taofeek, also emphasized that Lagbaja’s death was unnatural and that those responsible would not go unpunished. He believed the death was a huge loss for the town, state, and country.
Reports indicate that some of Lagbaja’s business ventures have been shut down after his death. A shopping complex he built in Aregbe, Osogbo, has been closed, and tenants have locked up their shops as a sign of respect.
The traditional ruler of Lagbaja’s hometown, the Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Ashiru Olatoye Olaniyan, described his death as a “generational disaster” for the community.
He called on the federal government to release Lagbaja’s body for burial in his hometown. Oba Olaniyan said, “We are seriously bereaved… No amount of condolences can soothe us. As a community, we know what we have lost.”
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State visited Lagbaja’s family to express his condolences. He pledged full state support for the burial and continued assistance for the family. In his tribute, the governor described Lagbaja as “a great son of Nigeria and Osun State,” a prayer session was held with the family.