Colonel Ogbonnaya Orji of Oboro, Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, died on June 20, 2017, three weeks after the death of his wife Christiana at the age of 76.
Colonel Orji, who joined the Nigerian Army as an officer cadet in 1960, later became a key player alongside Kaduna coup leader Nzeogwu in the country’s first military coup in January 1966. Colonel Orji fought on the Biafra side in the civil war. He served in the Biafran Army as Commander of the 9th Battalion in 1967, Commander of the 62nd Brigade in 1968, Chief of Staff of the 12th Division in charge of operations and training in 1969 and Chief of Staff of the 4th Commando Division in 1969 and Commander of Operations 1969 in September 1969
Sp.Orji trained as an officer candidate at the Nigerian Military School in Kaduna. From there he attended MONS Cadet school in Aldershot, UK to complete his cadet training. In July 1960 he received the rank of 2nd colonel.
He was a combat infantry officer. His service includes national service with the Royal Sussex Regiment in Belfast, Northern Ireland, platoon leader of the 4th Battalion in Ibadan, the Nigerian contingent in the United Nations peacekeeping operations in the Congo in 1962, and battalion intelligence officer of the 4th Battalion, Ibadan and general staff officer (GSO III) of the 2nd Brigade Apapa Lagos, Nigerian Army, he also attended the infantry officer course at the United States Infantry School in Fort Bening, Georgia, which he successfully completed.
He was also one of the first three Nigerian Army officers to successfully complete the parachute and parachutist course at the US Air Borne College, Fort Bening, Georgia in 1964/1965.
Until his death, he bore the traditional titles of Ugwumba 1 of Amaoba, Dike Oha 1 of Oboro and traditional Prime Minister of the Oboro clan. In July 1964 he married Christiana (née Isika) and their marriage produced three sons and 13 grandchildren.