General Iliya D. Bisalla was executed on March 11, 1976, along with 30 other officers, for their role in the failed coup of February 13, 1976, in which General Murtala Muhammed was killed.
General I.D Bisalla
A total of 125 people were arrested in connection with the attack. Forty were released, but 32, including the Minister of Defense, Major General.I. D. Bisalla was sentenced to death. They were executed at the Kirikiri Prison shooting range.
General ID. Bisalla took part in the testimony of Colonel Dimka during the investigation into the failed coup attempt. Bisalla was controversially convicted by the secret special military tribunal of conspiracy and concealment of treason. He proclaimed that he was innocent and did not need a priest to pray because he believed he would go to heaven. Bisalla was a colleague of General Hassan Katsina at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.Before becoming Defense Commissioner, he served as General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 1st Infantry Division, Nigerian Army from September 1969 to December 1973 and also as Commandant of the Nigerian Defense Academy, Kaduna.
List of coup plotters executed on March 11, 1976
1. Major I.D. Bisalla
2. Warrant Officer II Monday Monchon
3. Captain J. F. Idi
4. Lieutenant Colonel A. R Aliyu
5. Captain M. Parvwong
6. Staff Sergeant Richard Dungdang
7. Sergeant Sale Pankshim
8. Colonel A. D. S. Way
9. Lieutenant Colonel T. K. Adamu
10. Lieutenant A. B. Umaru
11. Captain A. A. Aliyu
12. Captain S. Wakins
13. Lieutenant Mohammed
14. Lieutenant E. L. K Shelleng
15. Lieutenant Colonel Ayuba Tense
16. Captain Augustine Dawurang
17. Major M. M. Mshelia
18. Lieutenant William Serin
19. Major I. B. Ribo
20. Major K. K. Gagra
21. Captain M. R. Gelip
22. Mr. Abubakar Zakari
23. Lieutenant Peter Ggani
24. Warrant officer Emmanuel Dakup Seri
25. Major J. W. Kasai
26. Sergeant Bala Javan
27. Warrant officer II Sambo Dankshin
28. Major Ola Ogunmekan
29. Lieutenant O. Zagni
30. Lieutenant S. Wayah
31. Sergeant Ahmadu Rege
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