Civil War Veteran, Joseph Achuzia, Dies at 90

Ex-Briafan solder, Joseph Achuzie, and a Nigerian civil war veteran died on Monday at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, Delta State at the age of 90.

The late Achuzie aka “Hannibal‘’ was a Major in the Biafran Army.

Onyeka Achuzie, son of the decease, who announced this to journalists at the deceased’s residence, No. 2 Idumojei Quarters, Asaba, said he died at about 8 am.

He said that the remains of the decease had been deposited at the hospital morgue ahead of the traditional burial rights on a date yet to be announced.

”My father died around 8 am this morning at age 90 in the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba.

“He was a traditional Chief of Asaba,” the Ikemba of Asaba”, so we have announced it to the Asagba in Council; it is a sad news to us.

“I could still not believe that he is dead, even when he was entering the FMC where he died, he was smiling, (but) we never knew he was going to die because he was still strong in spite of his age.

“He had a little bit of illness, coupled with his age, we really missed him for he was such a good father,” Onyeka said.

Onyeka said that as the Ikemba of Asaba the news of his father’s death had been announced though a traditional gun shot.

He described his father as “loving, kind and best father,” adding that he would be greatly missed by the family.

Onyeka said his father, who retired as a colonel in Nigerian Army, was survived by a wife, children, grandchildren and other relations.

The late Achuzia was in Nigerian Army before joining the Biafran Army in May 1967.

After he was released from prison in 1970 after the civil war, he officially retired from military activities and became a prominent figure in Nigerian politics.

(NAN)