By Tony Adibe
The death has been announced of Colonel Barrister Sir Patrick Anwunah, a pioneer Nigerian Officer, General Staff Officer 1, Nigerian Army.
Col Anwunah, who was also the Quartermaster General and Chief of Logistics, the defunct Biafran Army, died on September 16, 2022, at the age of 87.
A release issued by one of the sons, Mr. Chike Anwunah on behalf of the Anwunah family, reads: “With immense sadness, the Anwunah family wishes to announce the passing of Col Barr. Sir Patrick Anwunah, a Pioneer Nigerian Officer, General Staff Officer 1, Nigerian Army and Quartermaster General and Chief of Logistics, Biafran Army, on September 16, 2022. He was 87 years.
“Born at Awka in the former Eastern Region, Patrick Anwunah attended Government College, Umuahia 1948-1954 and directly from school, was enrolled as an Officer Cadet. Upon his graduation from the Eaton Hall Officer Cadet School, Chester, England, Col Anwunah proceeded to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, England, and was commissioned in 1956 in the Nigerian Army as a Second Lieutenant as N19.
“He subsequently became the General Staff Officer 1 in the Nigerian Army Headquarters where he played a major role in halting the January 1966 coup. The crisis of 1966 compelled him to come home to join in the defence of his people in the Nigeria Biafra war. In Biafra he would later become the Quartermaster General and Chief of Logistics at the Biafran Defence Headquarters.
“He was a member of the delegation that went to Lagos in 1970 to sign the peace accord that ended the Nigerian civil war. Funeral arrangements will be communicated later,” the statement added.
