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How Covert Nigerian Operation Engineered Death Of Boko Haram Leader, Shekau –Retired Major General
December 9, 2025
NEWS

A retired senior Nigerian Army officer, Major General Danjuma Ali-Keffi, has provided a detailed insider account of how a covert military and intelligence operation weakened Boko Haram and set the stage for the death of its notorious leader, Abubakar Shekau.

Ali-Keffi also alleged how internal sabotage, political interference, and high-level compromises nearly derailed the effort.

The former General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division and head of the covert Operation Service Wide (OSW) outlined a broader plan jointly developed under the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, for coordinated operations with the 8 Division to clear bandit and terrorist enclaves across Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara.

OSW was a specialised inter-agency operation focused on terrorism financing and high-level intelligence.

But he said in late July 2021, a directive came from the Muhammadu Buhari Presidency ordering all operations to halt for two weeks following assurances from Fulani leaders that they would persuade bandit groups to disarm.

He complied, as required by military discipline, but before the two-week period ended, both he and the GOC 8 Division were removed.

He lamented that the death of Gen. Attahiru and Brig. Gen. Abdulrahman Kuliya in the May 21, 2021 air crash dealt a major blow to the OSW’s momentum.

Ali-Keffi said the loss of Attahiru weakened operational cover, stalled ongoing offensives, and contributed to the release of several high-ranking Boko Haram commanders, financiers, and collaborators. He noted that troops’ morale collapsed as confidence in military leadership eroded, with some soldiers feeling used and unwilling to remain on the frontline.

Ali-Keffi credited the elimination of Shekau largely to Brig. Gen. Kuliya, who was the Chief of Military Intelligence, praising him for infiltrating Boko Haram networks and cleverly feeding ISWAP misleading information about Shekau’s intentions, triggering the confrontation that ultimately led to the terrorist leader’s death.

He said, “A large part of the credit for the ‘elimination’ of Shekau goes to the late Brig. Gen. Abdulrahman Kuliya, the Chief of Military Intelligence (CMI), who died in the plane mishap along with Gen. Attahiru on May 21, 2021.

“It was he, based on the intelligence and funds that OSW provided him with, infiltrated the Boko Haram Terrorist network and setup the chain of events that culminated in the death and weakening of the Boko Haram Terrorist JAS faction.

“He (Kuliya) came up with the smart idea of playing the Boko Haram and ISWAP against one another by ‘planting’ information and misleading narratives of intentions of the Boko Haram to the ISWAP.”

“This led to the infighting between the two which resulted in the weakening of the Shekau faction,” he added.

He also revealed that the operation supporting 8 Division’s offensive along the Birnin Gwari–Tegina–Mokwa axis was codenamed Operation Forest Shield, led by an Igbo officer who, he said, performed exceptionally well.

The retired military officer recalled longstanding tensions with former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, noting that he later discovered that confidential information about the covert unit, known as the OSW, was being leaked through individuals close to the then–Director of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Modibbo Hamman-Tukur.

This revelation, he said, forced him to exercise extreme caution in handling sensitive intelligence.

He said, “Regarding Buratai’s dislike for me, I recall that on several occasions, the former Director NFIU told me that Buratai didn’t like me.

“I later learned that Buratai and Modibbo Hamman-Tukur’s elder brother were friends and attended the same school. I could now understand how some of information on OSW activities were being leaked. Consequently, I became extra careful with Hamman-Tukur.”

He added that the then–Director of the NFIU nearly compromised the entire operation by attempting to hold a joint world press conference to claim credit, an action Ali-Keffi said would have exposed the covert structure and alerted Boko Haram and its international backers.

Ali-Keffi further disclosed that after his arrest and subsequent detention for 64 days, the OSW picked up credible intelligence indicating that elements within the previous administration planned to frame him for treason and eliminate him through lethal injection or poisoning.

He said the OSW alerted a Western ally, prompting the United States to intervene. Two weeks into his detention, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken visited Nigeria to warn against any harm being done to him.

He also alleged that key officials of the last administration were complicit in the surge of banditry and kidnappings across the North West and North Central, driven by illegal mining interests involving both local and foreign actors.

SaharaReporters

OSW was a specialised inter-agency operation focused on terrorism financing and high-level intelligence.

If Tinubu is wise he will make Ali Keffi his NSA ...Ali Keffi is someone i know personally , he was the one that killed sux attackers that tried to assassinate Charles Taylor ..A thorough combatant and legendary combat instructor

Na lie!.... We don try kill am for years, na ISWAP eventually kill am

All this story sound unbelievable, is it that Nigeria army are incompetent or what? If they can cause division between two terrorists sect it means they have the ability to pass information to them meaning they know them, why do they always know about this criminals be it bandits and terrorists but somehow find it difficult to eliminate them?

The Title of the whole story according to Late Gen Aziza is " Nigeria Army is Boko Haram , Boko Haram is Nigeria Army.

SpaceX:
All this story sound unbelievable, is it that Nigeria army are incompetent or what? If they can cause division between two terrorists sect it means they have the ability to pass information to them meaning they know them, why do they always know about this criminals be it bandits and terrorists but somehow find it difficult to eliminate them?

Please read through again maybe you will comprehend better

What did eliminating him changed? Boko haram is as deadly as ever

Buhari Govt Was Unhappy With Killing Of Boko Haram Leader Shekau, Failed To Celebrate Victory –Retired General Ali-Keffi
December 9, 2025
NEWS

Retired Major General Danjuma Ali-Keffi, the former General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division and head of the covert Operation Service Wide (OSW), has alleged that the Muhammadu Buhari administration was displeased with his team’s success in eliminating Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau.

Ali-Keffi said the government’s response to Shekau’s death was notably muted, contrasting sharply with how the United States celebrated the killing of Osama Bin Laden by SEAL Team Six in Abottabad, Pakistan.

He noted that Shekau was a declared enemy of the state, notorious for his attempts to dismantle governmental influence in areas under Boko Haram’s control.

He said, “Crucially, the previous (Muhammadu Buhari) administration was unhappy with the Operation Service Wide after we got Shekau and that explains the refusal of the government to celebrate his death.

“Contrast this with how President Obama celebrated the killing of Osama Bin Laden, the former Al-Qaeda leader by the US SEAL in Abottabad, Pakistan.

“My perception. As I stated, Shekau was an avowed enemy of the state and he (Shekau) did not hide his disdain for the state and his desire to dismantle its influence in the areas that the Boko Haram carved out in their delusional caliphate.

“So, one would naturally have thought that the government would have come out to celebrate and claim credit for his demise. Furthermore, Shekau was at the top of the list given to OSW to either capture or eliminate. However, despite briefing the late Buhari of our success in ‘eliminating’ him, we did not receive even a well done.”

Ali-Keffi clarified that since OSW was a covert outfit, “so we weren’t expecting it to be done publicly but at least, privately”.

“Furthermore, the government subsequently pretended as if Shekau’s demise was not significant by not even making reference to his death as one of the administration’s achievements.”

“Contrast this with the elimination of Osama Bin Laden which the Obama administration still touts as one of its greatest accomplishments,” he added.

Ali-Keffi clarified that while Shekau was a prominent figure within Boko Haram, he was not the organisation’s topmost leader.

He said that international intelligence, including insights from the UAE and a key Western country, indicated that Alhaji Saidu Ahmed was the true leader and financial backbone of the group.

He explained the significance of Saidu’s arrest and subsequent release.

The detention of Alhaji Saidu severely weakened Boko Haram, contributing indirectly to Shekau’s death.

The disruption of the group’s finances and logistics forced many fighters and their families to surrender.

However, after Saidu’s release under what Ali-Keffi described as “questionable circumstances,” Boko Haram regained its strength, highlighting that Shekau’s death alone had not dealt a decisive blow.

“Shekau was a prominent figure of the organisation and for a long while, he was thought to be the number one until the UAE and a key Western country made us to understand otherwise,” he said.

Ali-Keffi’s comment regarding Saidu Ahmed confirms an exclusive reported recently done by SaharaReporters.

The report detailed information on a network of 20 Nigerian and three international individuals suspected of financing and facilitating terrorism, particularly linked to Boko Haram activities. Saidu Ahmed was the first name on the list.

Last Friday, SaharaReporters Alhaji Saidu Ahmed, also known as Alh Saidu or Alhaji Saidu Gold, born on July 6, 1961, is a Nigerian businessman residing in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Identified as a key financier of Boko Haram, he is connected to multiple associates and convicts through extensive financial transactions.

Investigation carried out by Nigeria revealed that his accounts had recorded inflows totalling N4.8 billion, with frequent cash withdrawals.

He is directly linked to convicts Surajo Abubakar Muhammad, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, and Bashir Aliyu Yusuf, as noted in UAE court proceedings.

The retired general expressed frustration over the government’s lukewarm attitude towards the OSW immediately after Shekau’s death.

He also revealed that the former Director of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Hamman-Tukur Modibbo, sought to hold a joint press conference to claim credit for the operation. Ali-Keffi refused, citing operational security risks that could expose infiltrated operatives and compromise ongoing missions.

Ali-Keffi noted that the OSW, initially slated to operate from October 2020 to April 2021, had its mandate extended until June 2022, with official approval of funds for the continuation.

However, he alleged that no funds were released to the unit in the six months following the extension, leaving him to personally finance operations.

He described the delay as “curious” for such a sensitive and costly operation.

“The former President also approved funds for the extension but up to the date that I was arrested, six months after, not a kobo was released to the OSW,” he said.

“Meanwhile, the late President Buhari had urged me to source funds. I was convinced with the approval on paper which I received sometime in May 2021. As of date, however, I have not been reimbursed for the money that I expended.”

“Is this not curious (delay in the release of funds) for such a sensitive and as expected, an expensive endeavour?” he asked.

The OSW, a specialised inter-agency unit focused on counter-terrorism, high-level intelligence gathering, and the disruption of terrorist financing networks, played a central role in the operation that led to Shekau’s demise.

Ali-Keffi credited the success largely to the intelligence and strategic planning of the late Brigadier General Abdulrahman Kuliya, who orchestrated efforts to pit Boko Haram and ISWAP against each other, triggering internal infighting that weakened Shekau’s faction.

SaharaReporters

Ali-Keffi said the government’s response to Shekau’s death was notably muted, contrasting sharply with how the United States celebrated the killing of Osama Bin Laden by SEAL Team Six in Abottabad, Pakistan.

Nigerian Chief Of Army Staff Attahiru Was Assassinated In May 2021 Plane Explosion, Not An Accident, Retired General Alleges
December 10, 2025
NEWS

A retired senior Nigerian Army officer, Major General Danjuma Ali-Keffi, has alleged that the late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru, was deliberately eliminated and did not die in an ordinary plane crash, as officially stated.

Ali-Keffi, who once served as General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division and headed the covert Operation Service Wide (OSW), alleged that Attahiru’s death occurred against a backdrop of internal hostility, operational sabotage, and high-level corruption within the military.

Lieutenant-General Attahiru and 10 other military personnel died on May 21, 2021, when an aircraft transporting them crashed near the runway of the Kaduna International Airport.

The other victims were Brigadier-General Mohammed Abdulkadir; Brigadier-General Olatunji Olayinka; Brigadier-General Abdulrahman Kuliya; Major Lawal Aliyu Hayat; Major Nura Hamza; Flight-Lieutenant Alfred Ayodeji Olufade; Flight-Lieutenant Taiwo Olufemi Asaniyi; Sergeant Umar Saidu; Sergeant Adesina Isaiah; and Aircraftman Oyedepo Matthew.

In his account, Ali-Keffi said he had compelling reasons to believe that the late COAS was targeted.

According to Ali-Keffi, his conversations with Attahiru began shortly after the latter assumed office as COAS in early February 2021. He said the Army chief confided in him about humiliating treatment he had received from a superior officer during the early years of the Buhari administration when he served as GOC 82 Division.

Ali-Keffi said Attahiru recounted how, as Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, he was personally blamed for the loss of a scorpion armoured personnel carrier following an attack on a battalion, despite the battalion being several command levels below him.

The APC was eventually recovered, but Attahiru interpreted the incident as part of a pattern of unjust targeting.

He also recalled Attahiru’s frustration after intelligence suggested Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau was hiding in Maiduguri.

The COAS informed a superior at Army Headquarters (AHQ) before acting, but said he received a surprised and incoherent response.

Shortly afterwards, AHQ sent him a directive, through unsecured channels, to capture or eliminate Shekau. By the time troops arrived, Shekau had fled, leading Attahiru to suspect he had been tipped off.

Ali-Keffi said, “⁠Gen Attahiru also narrated how as Theatre Commander, he had intelligence report indicating that Shekau was hiding in a location in Maiduguri.

“Being conscious of the fact that the Army Headquarters (AHQ) had effectively hijacked control of Operation Lafiya Dole, he called a superior at AHQ and informed him of the intel. He (Attahiru) said the reaction of the superior, as he could perceive from their WhatsApp audio conversations, was of shock and incoherence.

“He said the superior said he would call him back. To his surprise, a message was sent to him from AHQ in clear, not through a secured means of communication, that ‘Shekau had been located in Maiduguri and the TC was directed to capture or eliminate him.’

“Unsurprisingly, Shekau fled the location before the troops arrived which made Attahiru to suspect that he (Shekau) was tipped off. I nonetheless faulted Gen. Attahiru for not carrying out the raid before informing AHQ. I didn’t mention that, though, to Attahiru.”

“Perhaps, Attahiru wanted to impress the AHQ, hence, the reason for alerting AHQ first. In my fairly long stay in the military, I had long suspected that a great deal of operational plans and information were leaked from headquarters; the AHQ was not an exception,” he added.

Allegations of Sabotage, Corruption and Terror Financing

Ali-Keffi further stated that Attahiru disclosed troubling intelligence about one of his sector commanders allegedly paying Boko Haram fighters to avoid attacks.

The retired military officer said the late Attahiru described the sector commander as the “godson” of a powerful superior.

“Gen. Attahiru also told me that as TC, he once got intel report that one of his sector commanders, akin to GOC, was paying off the Boko Haram Terrorists in order that they should not attack his location,” he said.

He also recalled that Attahiru was dramatically removed from Operation Lafiya Dole, arrested, handcuffed and detained for weeks at the Special Investigation Bureau.

According to Ali-Keffi, it was the same facility where he himself would later be detained for 64 days.

According to him, Attahiru warned him to stay away from a particular retired senior officer whom he suspected of engaging in harmful or “diabolical” activities.

He said Attahiru frequently referred to this figure as “that man” and seemed to speak with a sense of dread whenever the individual’s name came up.

“Gen. Attahiru once warned me to be wary of a certain superior officer and I recall informing him (Attahiru) sometime in late February 2021 that the superior, who had retired at the time, had invited me to visit his private home,” he said.

“Gen. Attahiru ordered me not to go saying that the individual may harm me as he believed that the fellow was into diabolical activities. I didn’t go as ordered by the COAS.

“I recall that whenever he mentioned a certain retired superior military officer, his voice had an edge to it. He mostly referred to the fellow as ‘that man’ and never mentioned him by name. While I wouldn’t describe Attahiru’s actions in respect of the retired superior as being fearful of the chap, I could sense a sort of dread.”

At the time of his death, the COAS had reportedly ordered a forensic audit of funds and equipment in the Army and was expected to act on the findings on May 24, 2021, three days after the fatal incident.

Ali-Keffi said he wonders what became of that audit report.

⁠”The late Gen. Attahiru, as I was made later understand, had ordered an audit (forensic) of funds and equipment immediately he assumed command of the Nigerian Army as COAS.

“He was due to act on the report on Monday, May 24, 2021. He died in the suspicious plane mishap on May 21, 2021,” he said.

⁠As head of OSW, he said his team discovered large sums of counterterrorism funds being diverted into private pockets. He alleged that several of the terror financiers arrested were laundering money on behalf of senior military and government officials.

“At the OSW, we had observed massive amounts of funds meant for the counter terrorism campaign being diverted into private pockets. Some of the terrorism financiers that we arrested were laundering funds for some senior military and government officials that we suspected were illicit money, which was meant for counterterrorism,” he said.

“⁠Terrorism thrives not only from funding received from external sources but also when funds meant for counterterrorism are misappropriated.”

“The Aircraft Did Not Crash, It Exploded”

Ali-Keffi insisted that the aircraft carrying Attahiru and the other officers did not crash but exploded just above ground level as it attempted to land in Kaduna.

According to him, the bodies of the victims were found flung far from the point of the explosion, and the injuries on some suggested the blast occurred inside the cabin.

He cited the case of Major Nura Hamza, whose legs from the knees downward were “blown off,” and Brigadier-General Kuliya, who also suffered severe limb injuries.

In contrast, the pilots’ bodies reportedly showed no burns and remained strapped to their seats, something he attributed to the armoured door separating the cockpit from the cabin.

Ali-Keffi said he personally stayed with the corpses at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, until 2 a.m. on May 22, observing their injuries firsthand.

“Furthermore, the nature of the injuries on some of the victims indicated that something exploded close to them,” he said.

“Additionally, the corpses of the two pilots were relatively intact, save for their faces which were darkened. They (pilots) were still strapped to their seats when we recovered their corpses. The apparent explanation for this was because of the armoured or steel door between the cockpit and the cabin area.”

He argued that examining the aircraft’s black boxes and exhuming the bodies to test for explosive residue could help establish the true cause of the incident.

Unreleased Report

The retired general questioned why, more than four years after the air disaster, the full report of the National Air Accident Investigation Board has not been made public. He said he believes only a preliminary report was issued and that crucial findings remain withheld.

According to him, these unresolved issues, combined with Attahiru’s conflicts with powerful figures, his ongoing audit, and evidence of widespread financial leaks in the counterterrorism system, support his belief that the late COAS did not die from an accident but was assassinated.

In September 2021, the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) submitted an interim report on the King Air 350 aircraft crash that claimed the lives of Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 others.

However, details of the report have yet to be made public.

SaharaReporters

Ali-Keffi, who once served as General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division and headed the covert Operation Service Wide (OSW), alleged that Attahiru’s death occurred against a backdrop of internal hostility, operational sabotage, and high-level corruption within the military.

bigpicture001:
Na lie!.... We don try kill am for years, na ISWAP eventually kill am

You didn't comprehend what Ali Keffi said, he didn't take credit for the death of Shekau. He said through their covert operation, they were able to ignite an internal fight between the two terrorist organisations, Boko Haram and ISWAP that culminated in the demise of Shekau.

From the testimony of Gen. Ali Keffi, it's confirmed that Buhari's regime empowered and emboldened Islamic terrorism in Nigeria, with many financiers and sympathizers operating in his government. Buhari was truly a disaster that happened to Nigeria. If we are wise as people, we should not allow any Fulani man to mount the throne as president of Nigeria for a very long time, until sanity is restored in the country.

I think it's high time we began to divulge power from the centre of governance to the regions. Concentration of power in Abuja is what is making the presidency so attractive, with a particular ethnic group attempting to hijack everything including security of the country.

OLAADEGBU:
OSW was a specialised inter-agency operation focused on terrorism financing and high-level intelligence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRE5awZckbQ?si=s7pYBMusSUAx09U0

Former Aide Alleges Tinubu’s Defence Minister Matawalle Bought Vehicles, Gave Cash To Wanted Terrorists, Hid Arrested Bandit Leader
December 12, 2025
NEWS

A former Senior Special Assistant in the Zamfara State Government, Musa Muhammad Kamara, has accused Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence and former Zamfara governor, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, of buying vehicles, funding armed bandits, and shielding a notorious terrorist after his arrest.

Matawalle was appointed Minister of State for Defence by President Bola Tinubu in August 2023.

In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, Kamara, speaking in Hausa, detailed how vehicles and cash were allegedly distributed to wanted terror commanders including Kachalla Halilu, Bello Turji, and Ado Aleru during Matawalle’s tenure as governor.

Kamara said the allegations currently being debated in the media are “not false,” insisting that he personally handled some of the transactions.

He said, "Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Ta'ala Wabarakatuh. My name is Musa Muhammad Kamara, former SSA under the former Zamfara State Government of Dr. Bello Mutawalle of Maradun.

"This is the matter: there is a lot of talk, and even after the government changed, there was no place where it was said that I was dismissed or suspended until we left office. Now, I am seeing on the media that a petition is circulating against Malam Murtala Bello Assada, accusing him of insulting and defaming the Minister of Defence.”

"There are some clips I watched in which Malam Murtala Bello Assada was speaking. So, we see that there are accusations and counter-accusations. This thing is not false," he said.

‘Vehicles Were Bought And Given To Bandit Leaders’

According to Kamara, vehicles were purchased under the instructions of the former governor and delivered to the notorious warlords.

"There is a clip I saw where the Mallam said that vehicles were bought. Wallahi, Summan Tallahi Billahi, vehicles were bought and distributed. Vehicles were given to Kachalla Halilu, Turji, Ado Aleru; those motorcycles were truly bought and given out.

"There is another clip I saw again recently that they were “settled”, given money. Truly. I, Musa Kamara, was among those who were given that settlement."

He further alleged that large sums of money were disbursed to bandit groups across all 14 local government areas of Zamfara State.

“This bank settlement record shows all 14 local governments of Zamfara State and their names. There is none of them that did not receive ₦3 million. When the money was added, it totalled ₦42 million, and it entered my account as a settlement of ₦28,020. Each local government I know received its amount, and the money was also given to the youths."

How A Terror Commander Was Allegedly Hidden After Arrest

Kamara also referenced a separate incident involving Haru Dole, a notorious terror leader said to possess “over 500 AK-47 rifles.”

He claimed Haru Dole was arrested at Gusau Hospital by security operatives and taken to Abuja.

"Malam Murtala also spoke in a clip about the arrest of Haru Dole. Haru Dole, one of the top bandits, who had 500 AK-47s. He was arrested by SCS at the Gwasso hospital. They arrested him and took him to Abuja, to the office of Illa Muradi.”

"From SCS, he was handed over to Illa Muradi’s office. Matawalle sent his aide, Dr. Bashir Maru, to the hospital to take the man and hide him, and that was done," he alleged.

‘I Handled Purchase Of House Given To Bandit Leader, Turji’

The former SSA also stated that he personally handled the purchase and renovation of a house allegedly gifted to terror kingpin Bello Turji.

He said, "Malam Murtala also spoke about the house that was bought for Turji. Billahi, Allazi La Ilaha Illa Hu; a house was bought. I was the one who bought the house. Someone began building it but abandoned it. They came and said I should talk to his younger brother, and I saw a small man with an elephant statue in Fakai town. The house was bought, completed, and handed over."

"These things we are seeing, some people are denying them, but everything that was done, I know. Even though I have no close relationship with Malam Murtala, some of these things are true," he said.

₦88 Million For Cows Allegedly Diverted And Stolen

Kamara added that he was entrusted with ₦88 million to purchase cows meant for distribution to residents during Sallah.

He claimed the cows were bought and delivered, but many were later stolen or diverted.

"For example, Malam Murtala said cows were bought and stolen. Wallahi, Summatallahi, I, Musa, was given ₦88 million to give to Kachalla Halilu and Kachalla Turji. I took the money to them for buying cows. The cows were bought at ₦140,000, and we were given ₦50,000 each as logistics.

"He told us to use ₦10,000 each for transport when bringing the cows. The cows were bought under a contract; they were to be shared to the people of Zamfara State for Sallah.

"I delivered the cows. One of the owners of the cows stolen from him saw me. Alamm Bakaura followed with his cows from Tsatsa to Batsari, and he followed his cows. I called the governor and he told me to buy him his cows. I brought the cows to the Commissioner for Security during Abubakar Daura’s time. They said the cows were for a ceremony. They were taken to Ruƙayya in Maradun.

"Everyone who came forward received those cows. These things truly happened."

I Will Go To Court; I Have Evidence

Kamara appealed to Malam Murtala Bello Assada, the whistleblower currently facing threats and petitions, to stand with him as a primary witness.

He said, "That is why I want to confirm that the allegations being made are true. I beg Malam Murtala Assada, for Allah’s sake, to support me as a primary witness because I will go to court and I will speak the truth; what I know, even what Malam Murtala does not know. I will come with my evidence and prove to the court what actually happened.

"I swear by Allah’s law, there are things that people do not know, and I will reveal them in court. The Mallam himself does not know some of them. I will say them because this has now reached the stage where justice must be done for the people."

He insisted that the revelations are necessary to ensure justice for the people of Zamfara State.

SaharaReporters

Matawalle was appointed Minister of State for Defence by President Bola Tinubu in August 2023.

EXCLUSIVE: Retired General Alleges Malami, Yahaya Colluded To Free 48 Terrorism Suspects, Links Top Military, Govt Officials To Money Laundering
December 15, 2025
NEWS
EXCLUSIVE

Retired Nigerian Army Major General Danjuma Hamisu Ali-Keffi, who was appointed in October 2020 by the late President Muhammadu Buhari to head a covert Presidential Task Force, Operation Service Wide (OSW), has raised serious allegations concerning the release of terrorism financing suspects while they were under military custody.

OSW, composed of personnel from the military, security and intelligence agencies, as well as legal officers from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, was tasked with arresting, investigating, and prosecuting financiers, sponsors, and collaborators of terrorist organisations, as well as capturing or eliminating terrorist leaders.

In an exclusive interview with SaharaReporters, Ali-Keffi lamented the release of all terrorism financing suspects in Army custody.

According to him, it occurred under “suspicious circumstances.”

He alleged that former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya (retd.), allegedly influenced by former Army Chief Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), orchestrated his exit from the Army to facilitate the release.

“All the terrorism financing suspects in the custody of the Army were released under suspicious circumstances. Thus, it could be safely deduced that General Yahaya, under the prompting of General Buratai set me up in order to get me out of the Army to pave way for the release of the suspects to cover up their links to some of the terror suspects,” he said.

“It is an open secret that General Buratai influenced the appointment of General Yahaya as the Army Chief following the death of General Attahiru as he wielded considerable influence in the Buhari administration.”

Ali-Keffi also implicated the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), in the alleged release, noting that his office would normally guide investigations and advise on the release of suspects only if insufficient evidence existed.

Ali-Keffi suggested that Malami’s “cooperation” was necessary for the suspects to be freed illegally, given his alleged connections to some of the suspects.

He said, “This is because the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice which Mr Malami headed were expected to guide the investigators in preparing evidences against the suspects with a view to prosecuting them in court.

“Similarly, it was his (Mr Malami’s) duty to also advise the Commander OSW to recommend to the former president to release a suspect if there is insufficient evidence to prosecute a suspect on either terrorism financing or money laundering charge.

“So, Mr Malami’s cooperation would be needed for any ‘illegal’ activity to occur in respect of the suspects’ release.

“Considering that Mr Malami was also linked to some of the suspects, it makes logical sense to assume that he cooperated with General Yahaya to free the suspects in the manner that was done in order to protect their reputation: any allegation of links to terrorism financing carries grave consequences for any individual not to talk a high government or military official.”

“So, it is improbable that the suspects would have been released by the Army without the knowledge and agreement of Mr Malami,” he added.

The retired general further raised concerns over the misappropriation of funds intended for counterterrorism operations.

He alleged that billions of dollars spent on Nigeria’s counterinsurgency efforts since 2010 yielded minimal results, largely due to alleged diversion of funds by senior military and government officials.

He said, “It should also be noted that Nigeria has expended several billions of dollars since the insurgency started sometime around 2010 but with very little results to show.

“It is generally believed that most of the money meant for the counterterrorism and counterinsurgency efforts are diverted into private pockets. In order words, enormous sums are stolen and some military top brasses in collusion with senior government and political figures are behind this misappropriation of funds meant for the counterinsurgency campaign.

“The NFIU as part of the OSW observed huge sums of money being laundered by some of the terrorism financing suspects on behalf of senior government and military officials; a number of the suspects operate bureau de change - money exchange- as a front for their more deadly crimes, which is, terrorism financing.”

“As I have come to understand in the course of the OSW project, misapplication of funds meant for counterterrorism is as bad as financing terrorism: they are both major enablers of terrorism,” he added.

Ali-Keffi also referenced a forensic audit reportedly ordered by the late Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, which was set to be signed on May 24, 2021, three days after Attahiru’s death.

He suggested that the audit could have uncovered the alleged misappropriation of funds, hinting at the possibility that the sabotage of Attahiru’s aircraft may be linked to those findings.

According to Ali-Keffi, OSW had amassed overwhelming evidence against 48 terrorism financing suspects, much of it sourced from the United Arab Emirates and Western intelligence agencies.

He described the release of all suspects without even money laundering convictions as unbelievable, arguing that only a thorough investigation into OSW could uncover the truth.

He said, “The OSW had overwhelming evidence against each of the 48 terrorism financing suspects in the custody of the Army. A lot of the evidence were provided by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as well as through collaboration with Western intelligence agencies.

“Therefore, for the entire suspects to walk away free was simply beyond belief. There must have been compromise for the suspects to get away without even money laundering convictions slammed on them.”

“Only a thorough investigation of the OSW will reveal the truth regarding the freeing of the suspects,” he added.

SaharaReporters

OSW, composed of personnel from the military, security and intelligence agencies, as well as legal officers from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, was tasked with arresting, investigating, and prosecuting financiers, sponsors, and collaborators of terrorist organisations, as well as capturing or eliminating terrorist leaders.

FarahAideed:
If Tinubu is wise he will make Ali Keffi his NSA ...Ali Keffi is someone i know personally , he was the one that killed sux attackers that tried to assassinate Charles Taylor ..A thorough combatant and legendary combat instructor

Maybe that will be for his second term

Ex-General Demands Probe Into Release Of 48 Terrorism Financing Suspects In Nigeria, Including ‘Boko Haram Leader’
January 21, 2026
NEWS

A retired Nigerian Army Major General, Danjuma Hamisu Ali-Keffi, has called for a full probe into the release of 48 terrorism financing suspects, including an individual identified by foreign intelligence agencies as a Boko Haram leader, who were previously held in military custody.

Ali-Keffi was appointed in October 2020 by the late President Muhammadu Buhari to lead the covert Operation Service Wide (OSW) tasked with investigating terrorism financiers and collaborators.

The task force comprised personnel from the military, security and intelligence agencies, as well as legal officers from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.

SaharaReporters learnt that OSW collaborated with about 33 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union, under the cover of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

In an exclusive interview with SaharaReporters, Ali-Keffi said the National Assembly (NASS) has not taken up the matter due to alleged compromise by a former army chief.

In a previous interview, Ali-Keffi disclosed that 48 individuals identified as terrorism financiers were arrested, including a person described as a principal Boko Haram leader identified by Western and Middle Eastern intelligence agencies.

“A significant amount of the huge funds meant for counterterrorism were shared amongst prominent military and government officials including NASS members and others,” he said.

“Putting the terrorism financing suspects on trial would have exposed the misappropriation of these counterterrorism funds and all the beneficiaries. That is why nothing has been done.”

The retired general revealed that the NFIU under OSW traced huge sums of money intended for counterterrorism being diverted through some arrested terrorism financing suspects who operated Bureau De Change (BDCs) as fronts.

“These funds were laundered on behalf of top military and government officials,” he added. “We should not forget that these same terrorism financing suspects also moved funds for Boko Haram operations.”

Ali-Keffi asked, “First, who ordered the release of the 48 terror financing suspects, including the individual identified by Western and Middle Eastern intelligence agencies as the leader of Boko Haram, held in military (Nigerian Army) custody? All those who played a part should be identified.”

“Secondly, why were they released without being put on trial?” he also asked.

Ali-Keffi questioned why these suspects were released without trial, particularly Hima Abubakar, whose $600 million account was traced by the NFIU to an overseas offshore account.

“Thirdly, why did the government request the US to unfreeze the $600m of Hima Abubakar that was traced by the NFIU to an overseas offshore account?” he asked.

“It should be noted that Hima had been declared wanted by the (Nigerian) government and even the Nigerien government for terrorism financing.

“Also, it should be recalled that at the beginning of the Buhari administration, an arms probe, Committee on Defence and Arms Procurement (CADEP) was set up and it indicted Hima Abubakar for several misdemeanours relating to arms/ equipment procurement.”

“So, why did we request the US to unfreeze his account after the CADEP had found him liable (of owing the country a huge amount of money, well over $600m)?” he further asked.

He also raised concerns over the release of Alhaji Saidu Ahmed, also known as Saidu Gold, identified as a top Boko Haram leader.

“It is laughable that Alhaji Saidu Ahmed alias Saidu Gold who was identified as a top leader of Boko Haram was released from Army detention and allowed to walk free despite the abundance of evidence that the OSW had,” he said.

“Let us recall that the UAE intelligence, as stated in the Dubai Judgment Papers, had shown that Saidu Gold recruited all the six individuals jailed in Dubai, some for life. Yet, for some insane reasons, we didn’t even put him on trial. Again, to me, it showed that some persons at the highest decision-making level decided that the suspects should be released so as to cover their tracks.”

“There are many questions begging for answers,” he added.

Suspicious Circumstances Around Audit Suppression

The retired general also recalled that the late Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, before his death in a suspicious air crash, had set up a forensic audit of counterterrorism funds and other military procurement monies that were never procured.

“He died three days before he was to act on the report,” Ali-Keffi said, adding that the suppression of this audit was part of a wider pattern to conceal the diversion of funds.

Ali-Keffi called for a thorough investigation into the handling of terrorism financing suspects and the funds meant for counterterrorism.

“If the NFIU under OSW should ever make its investigations public, I can assure you there will be a tsunami in Nigeria. Many military and government officials, including distinguished NASS members, would be implicated,” he said.

SaharaReporters

Ali-Keffi was appointed in October 2020 by the late President Muhammadu Buhari to lead the covert Operation Service Wide (OSW) tasked with investigating terrorism financiers and collaborators.

Court Grants Bail To Bauchi Commissioner, Others Accused Of Terrorism Financing Involving ₦400million
January 21, 2026
NEWS

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday granted bail to the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and three civil servants accused of complicity in terrorism financing involving ₦400million.

Justice Mohammed Umar, who took over the case file, ordered each defendant to deposit ₦100million and produce two sureties — one must be a serving permanent secretary, the other a serving director in the civil service.

The defendants were also directed to surrender their international passports, remain in Nigeria, and report weekly to the Bauchi office of the Department of State Services (DSS).

The ruling marks a sharp departure from an earlier decision by Justice Emeka Nwite, who in June 2025 rejected their bail application, citing national security concerns.

Justice Nwite had warned that terrorism-related offences posed a threat to social order and that releasing the accused could endanger the public.

Adamu, a former branch manager of Polaris Bank in Bauchi, was arraigned on December 31, 2025 alongside civil servants Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose, and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed.

They face a 10-count charge bordering on conspiracy, conversion of public funds, and terrorism financing under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The Nigerian government alleged that between January and May 2024, Adamu and his co-defendants — acting as signatories to Bauchi State government accounts — handed over $2.3 million in cash to Bello Bodejo, President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, and his associates.

Bodejo was previously arrested after unveiling a vigilante group in Nasarawa State and accused of establishing an ethnic militia.

Though charges against him were withdrawn in May 2024, prosecutors now claim Bauchi officials illegally funneled funds to him with the approval of Governor Bala Mohammed.

Court filings allege that the defendants conducted transactions worth $9.7 million outside the banking system.

One count specifically accuses Adamu of receiving $6.95 million in cash in violation of money laundering laws.

The Bauchi State Accountant-General, Sirajo Jaja, named in the charge sheet, is reportedly on the run. Prosecutors insist the defendants knew the funds would be used to finance terrorism.

Despite pleading not guilty, the accused begged the court for bail, which Justice Umar granted, ruling that the prosecution failed to prove they posed a flight risk.

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/705/2025, has been adjourned to March 26, 2026 for hearing.

SaharaReporters

Justice Mohammed Umar, who took over the case file, ordered each defendant to deposit ₦100million and produce two sureties — one must be a serving permanent secretary, the other a serving director in the civil service.