The Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru, and his State counterpart, Bello Matawalle, on Thursday, led service chiefs to pay a condolence visit to the family of the late Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.

Recall that the death of Lagbaja was announced by President Bola Tinubu in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday.

Mr Lagbaja, who was the 23rd COAS, passed on at the age of 56 after a brief illness.

The service chiefs are the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar and Chief of Defence Intelligence, Man.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye.

Also on the visit was the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

The acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, received the visitors at the Flag Staff House, official residence of the COAS at Nigerian Barracks, Abuja.

The ministers and the service chiefs took turn to pen down their individual condolence messages in the condolence register opened at the residence.

NAN