We Were In Sierra Leone” – Victor Banjo’s Daughter Speaks Out On Father’s K!ll!ng Allegedly Linked To Ojukwu

According to Ireporter Online, Professor Olayinka Omigbodun, daughter of the late Nigerian Army officer Lt. Col. Victor Adebukunola Banjo, has recounted how her family received the devastating news of his execution during the Nigerian Civil War.

Omigbodun disclosed that the family, who were residing in Kenema, Sierra Leone at the time, first learnt of her father’s fate through a letter sent by one of his brothers to their mother. She said the confirmation of his death was eventually shared within the family, marking a painful turning point in their lives.

She described Lt. Col. Banjo as a remarkable and selfless father who ensured the comfort of his family while he was alive, noting that he discouraged his wife from working, relying on his financial provisions to sustain the household. However, following his death, the responsibility of caring for the children fell entirely on their mother, who was forced to rebuild the family’s livelihood under difficult circumstances.

Omigbodun also reflected on the emotional impact the tragedy had on her mother, who struggled deeply with anxiety and sleepless nights, constantly seeking divine guidance on how to care for her four children after her husband’s passing.

Lt. Col. Victor Banjo, a Sandhurst-trained Nigerian officer, served in the Nigerian Army before aligning with the Biafran side during the 1967 civil war. He later fell out with Biafran leader Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, was accused of treason alongside other officers, convicted by a military tribunal, and executed by firing squad on September 22, 1967.