On February 13, 1976, Nigeria’s post-independence history was fractured. Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed, was assassinated in a Lagos ambush during an attempted coup led by Lt. Col. Bukar Suwa Dimka.
The failed plot collapsed within hours, but its aftermath reshaped the country. More than 30 military officers and civilians were executed, including Major General Iliya D. Bisalla, the nation’s Commissioner for Defence. To this day, the extent of Bisalla’s involvement remains one of the most debated chapters of the tragedy.
One image has come to symbolize the events that preceded the coup. It shows General Murtala Muhammed and Major General Iliya Bisalla in full military uniform, exchanging a formal handshake.
At the time, Murtala had been Head of State for just seven months, having taken power in the bloodless coup of July 1975. His administration was popular for its war on corruption, civil service reforms, and a clear pledge to return Nigeria to civilian rule.
Beside him stood Bisalla, the Defence Commissioner and one of the most senior officers in the government, charged with overseeing the armed forces.
Viewed nearly 50 years later, the photograph reads differently. It captures both the trust within the military leadership and the tensions that would explode weeks later.
The Morning Murtala Was Killed
On the morning of February 13, General Murtala was in a convoy moving through Lagos in his official black Mercedes-Benz. Near Ikoyi, soldiers loyal to Lt. Col. Dimka opened fire, killing the Head of State and several aides.
The coup plotters moved simultaneously to seize radio stations and barracks. But they failed to secure nationwide support. Loyal troops quickly regained control.
By that evening, the coup had failed. Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, General Olusegun Obasanjo, was named the new Head of State.
The Trial And Execution Of General Bisalla
In the crackdown that followed, the military government set up special tribunals to try those linked to the plot.
Dimka was named as the ringleader. During interrogation, statements attributed to him implicated several senior officers, including General Bisalla. The prosecution alleged that Bisalla had played a coordinating role in the conspiracy.
Bisalla denied any involvement. Historians note that Dimka’s statements were inconsistent during the investigation, with different names mentioned at different times, including that of Major Rabo. Because the trials were held under military rule and full records were never made public, questions about due process have persisted.
On March 11, 1976, less than a month after Murtala’s death, General Bisalla was executed by firing squad alongside 31 others convicted in connection with the coup. It remains one of the largest mass executions in Nigeria’s military history.
An Unresolved Debate
Nearly five decades on, debate over Bisalla’s role has not ended.
The official position of the Federal Military Government was that he was part of the conspiracy and was lawfully convicted by a tribunal.
But scholars and legal observers have questioned whether all the accused received transparent trials, citing limited public access to proceedings and the tense political climate after the assassination.
With many official records still classified and no independent judicial review conducted, a definitive account of Bisalla’s involvement has never been established.
Legacy
Murtala Muhammed’s assassination changed Nigeria’s trajectory. It brought Obasanjo to power, accelerated the transition timetable to civilian rule, and triggered major reforms in the military and security architecture.
The handshake photo of Murtala and Bisalla endures as a stark reminder of how quickly alliances in power can turn, and of a moment when Nigeria stood at the edge.
