Ex-Biafra Warlord, Col. Ogbonnaya Oji (RTD),And Wife Die 3 Weeks Apart

The entire Oji family of Amaoba, Oboro in Ikwuano LGA of Abia Stateannounces the death of High Chief, Elder, Col. Ogbonnaya Oji aged 80yrs and Mrs Christiana Oji (Nee Isika) age 76 years. The sad events occurred on the 20th of June and the 28th of May respectively.

Ogbo Oji attended KNC (Kalabari National College) Buguma from 1953 to 1958 and was the Senior Prefect in his final year. He worked with the UAC from 1958 to 1960 when he joined the Nigerian Army as an Officer Cadet. 

He trained as an officer cadet at the Nigerian Military
Training College (NMTC) Kaduna and completed his cadet training in MONS Officer Cadet School, Aldershot in the United Kingdom where he was commissioned 2nd Lt in July 1961.

He was a combatant infantry officer and his service record include Military Attachment with the Royal Sussex Regiment Belfast, Northern Ireland, Platoon Commander 4th Battalion Ibadan, Nigerian Contingent in the United Nations Peace Keeping Operations in the Congo in 1962,Battalion Intelligence Officer 4th Battalion Ibadan, General Staff Officer (GSO III) 2 Brigade Nigerian Army Apapa Lagos. 

He also attended and successfully completed the Infantry Officers Staff Course at the United States School of Infantry Fort Benin, Georgia. He was also among the 1st three (3) Nigerian Army Officers to successfully pass the Parachute and Air-borne course at the United States Air Borne College at Fort Bening, Georgia in 1964/1965.

He got married in July 1964 to Mrs. Christiana Iheoma Oji (Nee Isika) and their marriage was blessed with 3 male Children and 13 grand children.

During the Nigerian Civil war he served in the Biafran Army as
Commanding Officer 9th Battalion in 1967, Commander 62 Brigade in 1968, Principal Staff Officer (PSO I) 12 Division in charge of Operations and Training in 1969 and in September 1969 was Principal Staff Officer (PSO-G) at the 4th Commando Division in charge operations.

At the end of his military career he served as a member of the interim board of Anambra Aluminum Products Ltd in 1987, Chairman of the Board of Anambra Vegetable Oil Products (AVOP) in 1988 and on the creation of Abia State in 1991 was the pioneer General Manager of Abia State Transport Company until November 1994.

He was a respected community leader and until his death held the titles of Ugwumba 1 of Amaoba, Dike Oha 1 of Oboro and the Traditional Prime Minister of Oboro Clan.

He would be interred on the same day with his wife at their country home in Amaoba-Ime, Oboro in Ikwuano LGA of Abia State on Saturday 19th of August 2017.

Ahaoma Kanu*
Investigative Journalist, writer, activist and volunteer.
*National Daily Newspaper*