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Breaking! 1976 Murtala Coup ‘Mastermind’, Bisalla’s Wife, Mildred is dead

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Mildred, the wife of Late General Iliya Bisalla, one of the mastermind of the 1976 bloody coup that claimed the life of former Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed is dead. Her passing was announced today by her family. The late General Iliya Bisalla was one of the men implicated in the 1976 military coup d’état that led to the death of one of Nigeria’s most loved head of state till date, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed on February 13, 1976 at Obalende, Lagos. Murtala Mohammed was on his way to observe the Muslim Jumat prayer when he was waylaid and shot to death by the coup plotters.

General Bisalla who as at then was the then Commissioner of Defence, now known as Minister of Defence under the regime of Murtala Mohammed and the 4th in command to the head of state. He was implicated by the confessional statement of one of the coup masterminds, Colonel Bukar Suka Dimka, who was arrested in Abakaliki, in present day Ebonyi State. This was after 3 weeks of manhunt following the failure of the coup.

Indeed, the period was a very try one for Mrs. Mildred Bisalla whose elder sister, Helen was married to another top military officer, Joseph Gomwalk who was also implicated in the 1976 coup. Both Bisalla and Gomwalk were executed by a military firing squad at the Lagos Bar Beach on March 11, 1976. Till date, there are still controversies surrounding the involvement of Bisalla and Gomwalk in the coup, as there are those who still believe they were framed and until she breathed her last, the late Mrs. Mildred Bisalla and her children have continued to maintain that her husband was innocent.

Some followers of military politics have continued to maintain that the secret Special Military Tribunal that convicted Bisalla of conspiracy and concealment of treason did so in a controversial fashion because his complicity was not clear. For instance, while the Federal Military Government asserted that Bisalla gave Dimka operational orders, Dimka under interrogation disclosed that another officer, one Major Rabo was the one who provided the operational order. Indeed history has it that Dimka gave a lot of inconsistent testimonies during hid interrogation and was even drinking beer in the course of it.

Bisalla was a product of the prestigious Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, United Kingdom and was a Major General as at the time he was executed.

It is interesting to note that when former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon was getting married in the thick of the Nigerian civil war on April 19, 1969, Mildred Bisalla was one of the four ladies-in-waiting, the others were Hilda Adefarasin, Dora Adefowope and Ruda Mohammed. Late Mildred Bisalla nee Kwashie is originally from Pankshin in Plateau State, but her family as missionaries settled in Wusasa, Kaduna State.

He death must be a personal loss to the family of former head of state, Retired General Yakubu Gowon and his wife, Victoria, not only because their families are very close but also because they are both from Pankshin and their families both settled in Wusasa.

Source: Opera News

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UK-Based Blogger Maureen Badejo Set For Court Appearance

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Popular UK-based Nigerian blogger and social commentator, Maureen Badejo, is set to appear before the Federal High Court on Monday to answer to a multiple -count charge being proposed by the police legal team to find fault, her lawyer, Barrister George Ogunjimi, has disclosed.

 

 

Chief Ogunjimi, the Bamofin of Ojo, Lagos and a dual jurisdiction practitioner revealed that Badejo recently returned to Nigeria in connection with an appeal court matter scheduled to hold in Ibadan on the 16th of February 2026 prior to her encounter with law enforcement authorities.

 

 

According to him, Badejo was arrested and interrogated by operatives of the Cybercrime Unit at Adekunle Police Station, Yaba, Lagos, following a petition reportedly filed by Apostle Johnson Suleman.

 

 

He clarified that contrary to speculation, the blogger voluntarily honoured the police invitation herself, presenting at the station without resistance.

 

 

“She was not picked up or abducted. She went to the police station personally in response to the invitation,” Ogunjimi said.

The lawyer added that while she was still at the station, another petition allegedly emerged, this time from the General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), Pastor Daniel Olukoya, which subsequently led to her being held and later detained at the Alagbon detention facility.

 

 

Despite the development, Ogunjimi expressed confidence in her legal prospects, assuring supporters that his team is fully prepared to defend her.

 

 

“We are optimistic. The alleged offences are bailable, and by God’s grace, we will secure her bail on Monday,” he stated.

The case has since drawn public attention, particularly among Badejo’s followers both in Nigeria and the diaspora, as proceedings at the Federal High Court are expected to begin next week.

 

As of the time of reporting, the police had not issued an official statement explaining the legal basis for Badejo’s arrest or detention.

 

Badejo has previously been involved in legal disputes with Apostle Suleiman, including a 2022 UK High Court ruling that dismissed his defamation claim and ordered him to pay her £19,601 in costs.

 

She has also publicised allegations made by a former MFM pastor against Dr Olukoya.

 

The case has sparked renewed concerns over press freedom and the use of cybercrime laws in Nigeria.

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Photos: Dakore Akande And Timini Lay Father To Rest

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Nollywood siblings Dakore Akande and Timini Egbuson have finally laid their father to rest.

Earlier this year, actor, Timini Egbuson, had announced the passing of his father. He said he never thought he would start the year by saying RIP to his dad, and promised to continue to make him proud.

His sister, Dakore Akande, expressed how heartbroken she is, yet glad that he was free from pain. She expressed gratitude for the memories and laughter, the legacy of excellence that he instilled in them, and his love for music and looking stylish.

 

Timini father's burial

 

Taking to his Instagram page, Timini shared photos from his low-key burial ceremony, which was attended only by family.

In his caption, he revealed that they said their final goodbyes as he bade his father farewell. The popular actor said his father’s strength and love will always guide them.

“We said our final goodbyes. Rest well, Papa. Your strength and love will always guide me”.

 

Timini father's burial

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US Mission Decries Horrific Kwara Massacre, Pledges Support For Tinubu’s Security Strategy

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The United States Mission in Nigeria has condemned the horrific and senseless attacks in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State that reportedly claimed over 160 lives.

In a statement released on February 6, 2026, the U.S. expressed its condolences and backed President Bola Tinubu’s immediate security and humanitarian response.

JomogNews reports that while the Nigerian Police Force said 75 persons were confirmed killed in the assault on Woro and Nuku communities, local sources and international observers put the death toll significantly higher.

In a statement on X on Friday, the US Mission in Nigeria described the attack as “horrific,” saying more than 160 people were feared dead, with many still unaccounted for.

“The United States condemns the horrific attack in Kwara state in Nigeria, which claimed the lives of more than 160 people, with the death toll still unconfirmed and many still unaccounted for.

“We express our deepest condolences to the families of those affected by this senseless violence,” the statement read.

It welcomed President Bola Tinubu’s directive to deploy security forces to protect affected communities.

“We welcome President Tinubu’s order to deploy security forces to protect villages in the area and his directive to federal and state officials to provide aid to the community and bring the perpetrators of this atrocity to justice,” the statement added.

The reaction adds to international condemnation of the attack, which had earlier drawn rebukes from the United Nations and the Republic of Türkiye.

Tinubu had ordered the deployment of an army battalion to Kaiama and approved the creation of a new military command to lead the operation, following the assault on Woro and Nuku communities.

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had also ordered the immediate deployment of tactical and intelligence teams to Kaiama and surrounding communities to restore calm and prevent further attacks.

Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said the deployment of troops under Operation Savannah Shield would help deter further violence, adding that security forces were already on the ground.

 

 

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