Illiya Bisalla Explained

Illiya Bisalla
Honorific Prefix:Major General
Width:120px
Office1:Commissioner of Defence
Term Start1:1975
Term End1:1976
Predecessor1:Gen. Yakubu Gowon
Successor1:Brig. O. Obasanjo
Office2:Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy
Term Start2:February 1975
Term End2:August 1975
Predecessor2:Maj-Gen E.O. Ekpo
Successor2:Brig Gibson Jalo
Office3:General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army
Term Start3:September 1969
Term End3:December 1973
Predecessor3:Gen. Mohammed Shuwa
Successor3:Brig. I.B. Haruna
Branch: Nigerian Army
Alma Mater:RMA Sandhurst
Serviceyears:1961–1976
Rank: Major General
Death Date:11 March 1976
Death Place:Nigeria

Iliya D. Bisalla (died 11 March 1976) was a Major General in the Nigerian Army and Commissioner of Defence (title is now Minister of Defence) under the military administration of General Murtala Mohammed, the 4th Nigerian Head of State.

Military career

Bisalla was a course mate of General Hassan Katsina at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Before becoming the Defense Commissioner, General Bisalla was the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1st Infantry Division of the Nigerian Army from Sep 1969 to December 1973,[1] and also Commandant of the Nigeria Defence Academy, Kaduna.[2]

Implication and Conviction in the abortive February 1976 Coup Attempt

General Bisalla was implicated by Colonel Dimka's confessional statements after investigations into the abortive 13 February 1976 Dimka led coup which resulted in General Mohammed's assassination. Bisalla was controversially convicted of conspiracy and concealment of treason by the secret Special Military Tribunal; and as a result, Bisalla's complicity is not clear (e.g., the Federal Military Government (FMG) asserted that Bisalla gave Dimka operational orders while Dimka, under interrogation, stated that another officer (Major Rabo) provided the operational orders).[3] Importantly, Dimka's confessional was not corroborated and Dimka was known to have provided inconsistent testimonies and drank beer while being interrogated.

Death

General Bisalla along with 31 other alleged co-conspirators some clearly guilty (such as Colonel Dimka and Lt. William Seri) and others whose guilt remain questionable (such as Joseph Gomwalk) were executed by firing squad on 11 March 1976.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nigerian Army Divisions . 22 July 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130807020805/http://www.army.mil.ng/divisions.html . 7 August 2013 . dead .
  2. Book: Siollun. Max. Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture (1966-1976). 2009. Algora Publishing, 2009. 9780875867090. 183.
  3. Book: Siollun, Max. Oil, politics and violence: Nigeria's military coup culture (1966-1976). 2009. Algora Publishing. 978-0875867083. 213.
  4. Web site: Omoigui. Nowa. Col. Dimka's Failed Coup Attempt. 24 April 2012.