Ex-Biafran soldier, Col. Joseph ‘’ Hannibal ‘’ Achuzia died on Monday at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, Delta. He was aged 90.
The late Achuzia was a Major in the Nigerian Army, before he defected to the Biafran side in 1967 at the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War.
Mr Onyeka Achuzia, son of the deceased, said Colonel Achuzia died at about 8 a.m on Monday.
He said that the remains of the deceased 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 a.m 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; 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 are really going to miss 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 with a traditional gun shot.
Achizie is survived by a wife, children, grand children and other relations.
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.
Source: NAN