Chris Alli

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Major General
Mohammed Chris Alli
Chief of Army Staff
In office
November 1993 – August 1994
Preceded byAliyu Mohammed Gusau
Succeeded byAlwali Kazir
Governor of Plateau State
In office
18 May 2004 – 18 November 2004
as Administrator of Plateau State
Preceded byJoshua Dariye
Succeeded byJoshua Dariye
In office
August 1985 – 1986
Preceded bySamuel Atukum
Succeeded byLawrence Onoja
Personal details
Born(1944-12-25)25 December 1944
Koton-Karfe, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now in Kogi State, Nigeria)
Died19 November 2023(2023-11-19) (aged 78)
Lagos, Nigeria
Military service
Allegiance Nigeria
Branch/service Nigerian Army
Years of service1967–1994
Rank Major General
CommandsCommander, 3rd Infantry Brigade, Kano

Mohammed Chris Alli (25 December 1944 – 19 November 2023) was a Nigerian Army major general who served as Chief of Army Staff from 1993 to 1994 under General Sani Abacha's regime and was military governor of Plateau State Nigeria from August 1985 to 1986 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. Many years later, he was appointed interim administrator of the state during a 2004 crisis in the state following ethno-religious killings in Shendam, Yelwa Local Government.[1][2]

Military career[edit]

On 13 February 1976, army coup plotters assassinated the then head of state, General Murtala Mohammed. Alli was investigated for involvement in the coup attempt, but was exonerated.[3] General Ibrahim Babangida appointed Alli military governor of Plateau State from August 1985 to 1986.[1] During the attempted coup against General Ibrahim Babangida by Major Gideon Orkar on 22 April 1990, Colonel Alli was commander of the 3rd Infantry Brigade in Kano. He instructed several army commanders to make counter-broadcasts, as he did himself. The attempted coup failed.[4] After the coup in November 1993, when President Ernest Shonekan was ousted by General Sani Abacha, Alli was appointed Chief of the Army Staff.[5] Abacha dismissed him from this post in August 1994.[2]

Later career[edit]

In May 2004, Plateau state erupted in sectarian violence, which spilled over to Kano State.[6] It was reported that over 50,000 people had died.[7] President Olusegun Obasanjo declared emergency rule in the state and suspended Governor Joshua Dariye and the state assembly, appointing Alli as administrator.[6] Alli quickly developed the Plateau Peace Program, involving dialog between religious, ethnic and community leaders, and a statewide peace conference. He also gave an amnesty to holders of weapons and a reward for their turning in their arms.[8] Alli's measures were successful in calming the situation, and he handed back to civilian rule in November 2004.[6]

Death[edit]

On 19 November 2023, Alli died at the Military Hospital located in Lagos State. He was 78.[9] The government identified the cause of death was as a result of a brief illness.[10]

Bibliography[edit]

  • M. Chris Alli (2001). The Federal Republic of Nigerian Army: the siege of a nation. Malthouse Press. ISBN 978-023-127-7.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Nigeria: States". Rulers.org. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
  2. ^ a b Lanre Isa-Onilu (19 May 2004). "Chris Alli, the Man, the General". ThisDay. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
  3. ^ Max Siollun (2009). Oil, politics and violence: Nigeria's military coup culture (1966-1976). Algora Publishing. p. 214. ISBN 0-87586-708-1.
  4. ^ Nowa Omoigui. "The Orkar Coup of April 22, 1990". Dawodu. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
  5. ^ Nowa Omoigui. "Nigeria: The Palace Coup of November 17, 1993 Part 1". Dawodu. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
  6. ^ a b c Mahmud Jega (22 October 2006). "A Nation in Crisis". Weekly Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
  7. ^ "Nigerian clashes: '50,000 killed'". BBC News. 7 October 2004. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
  8. ^ Carina Tertsakian (2005). "Revenge in the name of religion: Nigeria : the cycle of violence in Plateau and Kano States,". Human Rights Watch Volume 17, Issue 8. Human Rights Watch: 50.
  9. ^ "Mohammed Chris Alli, a former chief of army staff, during the regime of the late Sani Abacha, is dead". The Cable. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  10. ^ Nurudeen, Lawal (19 November 2023). "Former Chief of Army Staff, Major General Chris Alli (rtd), has passed away at the age of 78 in a military hospital in Lagos after a brief illness". Legit Ng. Retrieved 20 November 2023.


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