The Etsu of Bassa Nge Kingdom in Kogi State, North Central Nigeria, Alhaji Abu Ali is dead.
He died in the early hours of Monday, November 24, 2025 due to complications arising from old age.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi announced the passage of the monarch in a post on his Facebook wall.
Ododo wrote “We just lost His Majestic King, Alh. Abu Ali the Etsu of Bassa-Nge Kingdom.
“May your Soul rest in Jannatul Firdaus.”
Late Governor Abubakar Audu appointed the late Ali, the Etsu Bassa Nge in 2000, a position he held until his death.
The Etsu was a Military Governor of Bauchi State as a Colonel in the Nigerian Army during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida from August 1990 – January 1992. He handed over to a democratically elected government in January 1992.
He is the father of Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Abu Ali who was killed by Boko Haram insurgents in an ambush in Malam Fatori, Borno State, on November 4, 2016.
The Etsu who retired from the Nigerian Army as a Brigadier General in 1999, hailed from Kpata area of Kogi State.
He was a first class title holder who was widely respected.
