The Nigerian Army has taken a break from protecting the country to address the real emergency, media reports suggesting there’s a leadership crisis because the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, is on annual leave. Apparently, taking a vacation is now a national security issue.
In a statement released Monday by Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, the Director of Defence Information, the Army made it clear that there’s no leadership vacuum. Lagbaja is simply on a well-deserved break. The man responsible for national security is lounging, and according to the Army, everything is going according to plan.
And what about those online viral videos calling for a military coup? The Army wants to remind everyone that advocating for a coup is a treasonable offense. So, unless you’re keen on getting charged with treason, you might want to rethink those dramatic calls for military intervention. It’s fascinating how the real news here seems to be less about security issues and more about correcting rumors.
According to the Army’s statement: “The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) wishes to clarify that it has not announced the appointment of any senior officer as the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), contrary to speculation by certain media outlets.” In simple terms: Stop spreading rumors. There’s no acting Chief of Army Staff. Major General Abdulsalam Bagudu Ibrahim, the Chief of Policy and Plans, is handling routine duties and briefing the COAS, but apparently, that’s no reason for alarm. Everything is just fine—except for those pesky reports, of course.
For clarity, General Lagbaja is on his 2024 annual leave. In a country where every day feels like a crisis, it’s comforting to know that military leaders still get their vacation time. We should all breathe easy knowing the army is “professionally managed” even if their leader is temporarily out of the office. Just imagine the professionalism that comes with sending routine briefs while sipping coconut water somewhere far away from the nation’s troubles.
The Army also warned individuals spreading “unfounded rumors” about leadership crises to cut it out. Why? Because, according to them, the Chief of Army Staff is in perfect health and will be back to regular duties soon. Maybe we can all sleep easier knowing Lagbaja will return to work once his vacation selfies stop rolling in.
“The AFN remains focused on protecting the nation’s integrity,” the statement continued. The military is committed to keeping Nigeria safe while remaining loyal to civilian rule. Of course, this reassurance comes with a reminder that the “relative peace” Nigerians enjoy is thanks to the President’s support for the military and the dedicated leadership of the Armed Forces. If only Nigerians could feel this peace when struggling with economic hardship or security challenges.
And just in case the media didn’t get the memo, the Army also advised news organizations to verify their information before publishing “fake news.” They made it clear that the Chief of Defence Staff had only spoken to the Chief of Army Staff minutes ago—presumably to confirm that everything is under control. Perhaps journalists should take note, instead of relying on viral videos, they should check with the military first.
In the end, the Army’s statement leaves little room for doubt. Lagbaja’s vacation is apparently no cause for concern, and Nigeria’s democracy is safe. But one has to wonder, if everything is so fine, why does the military have to spend so much time telling us it is?
