The retired army general appointed by Nigeria’s president to govern a violence-wracked state pledged Thursday to crack down on ethnic and religious militants while protecting freedoms gained since military rule ended five years ago. “There will be no sacred cows,” Maj. Gen. Chris Alli said. “What I mean is that if you commit an offense, I will insist that you be punished.” President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Alli administrator of the troubled central state of Plateau on Tuesday under the first emergency decree issued since Obasanjo’s 1999 election ended 15 years of military rule. The emergency decree gives Obasanjo — through his appointee — sweeping decision-making powers in the state. Full Story