A foremost Biafran army veteran and close associate of the late Biafran war leader and Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, High Chief Nathan Ofoma, has passed away at the age of 80.
Born in 1945, High Chief Ofoma, who hailed from Ezinifite community in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, died on Saturday, December 27, 2025, after a brief illness.
A top-ranking officer during the Nigerian Civil War, Ofoma fought gallantly on the Biafran side under the close supervision of Ojukwu, earning him the battlefield nickname “Abazoka.” He remained a respected figure among Biafran veterans long after the war.
Beyond his wartime exploits, Ofoma was a prominent businessman and major distributor for leading breweries, including Nigerian Breweries Plc, Guinness Nigeria Limited and Interfact Breweries. His company, Ofoma and Sons Limited, is headquartered between the old Ogbunike Toll Gate and the Building Materials International Market, Ogidi, near the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State.
His eldest son, Sir Chinedu Ofoma, a Knight of St. Christopher (KSC) in the Anglican Church, confirmed his father’s death to journalists in Onitsha. He said burial arrangements would be announced later after consultations within the family.
Meanwhile, condolence messages have continued to pour in from prominent personalities within Nigeria and the diaspora. Condolence registers have been opened at the company’s headquarters, his residence at Omagba Phase 2, Onitsha, and his hometown of Ezinifite.
