08/11/2025
CIVIL WAR HERO FOLLOWS ARAGA
Barely twenty-four hours after the death of Jonathan Oke Araga was recorded, a Nigerian Civil War hero has followed suit after an illness.
Aged 77, Pa Abel Olufemi Akanji-Aro Adepoju JP of the Iyalode Compound passed on at an hospital in Ibadan on Friday 7th November, 2025.
His remains was brought home and buried on Saturday 8th November, 2025 after his funeral ceremony conducted at the Apata Ayeraye Baptist Church, Shasha Road, Ago-Are.
Born in June, 1948, Pa Olufemi Adepoju attended the Baptist Day School Ago-Are, Baptist Modern School Otu and the Kiriji Memorial College.
In the year 1965, he first became an apprentice radio mechanic under his relative the incumbent Bobajiro of Saki Chief Adejumo Adetola and later became an apprentice tailor under Mr Olaleye a native of Idoani in Ondo resident at Ekotedo, Ibadan from 1966 to 1968.
With the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War in 1967, Olufemi Adepoju joined the Nigerian Army and acquired his basic military training at the Nigerian Army Training Depot Abeokuta from where he was posted to the 23 Battalion, Sector 2 Afikpo under the First Division Nigerian Army operating from Enugu then. He fought in the Biafran War and one of the Federal troops who captured Akaze, Owutu, Umuahia, Beide, Arochukwu and Ohafia among others.
As a Signaler in the Army, he also worked in Maiduguri, Jos, Ibadan and Kaduna where he retired voluntarily in 1989 in the rank of Warrant Officer (WO).
As a military veteran and Civil War hero, Pa Olufemi Adepoju became the Chairman Nigerian Legion of Ex-Servicemen, Atisbo Local Government Area from 2009 to 2017.
The deceased contributed positively to the development of the Ago-Are Community in many ways. He also took part in religious activities where he held various posts from Sunday School teacher to Chairman Building Committee and member Peace and Reconciliation Committee.
Pa Adepoju also took to active politics which made him to assist many young politicians to grow in the locality. He was the Organizing Secretary Social Democratic Party (1992 – 1993), Secretary APC Elders Forum Atisbo LGA and until death the Chairman APC Security Committee from 2013.
He is survived by his wife and children.,