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


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.

i read were it was believed a RPG was used to bring down the aircraft

Very detailed weighty allegations

And some southern follow follow are saying that US should not intervene that they are coming to steal our resources.

Now they can see the high level compromise within the security and political circle that suggest Nigeria can never win the war against terrorist on their own strength.

Hmm I just pray and hope they'll not target you for elimination

I hope this man is not in Nigeria at the moment. I mentioned this last week. The day president Tinubu decides to order a comprehensive audit of Nigerian armed forces finances as regards the war against terror, 2 things will happen.

1. Nationwide bombings, kidnappings and outright massacre of communities
2. The bloodiest coup in the history of this country will happen.

If we want to know why the war against Boko Haram has lasted this long, a quick look at the defence budget and associated expenditure will tell us. Follow the money.

But that will never happen.

Burantaishi's foul odour reeks throughout this expose, even without a mention of his name.

Hedonisco:
Burantaishi's foul odour reeks throughout this expose, even without a mention of his name.

Of course. As GOC, the only other superior officer to a Major General at AHQ will be the COAS, who is a Lt. General. When Attahiru was TC Operation Lafiya Dole, Burantashi was the COAS

Hedonisco:
Burantaishi's foul odour reeks throughout this expose, even without a mention of his name.

You gorrit

That man is one of the very mistakes the Nigeria military ever produced

Snake man

These are very weighty allegations. I believe the reasons the attacks have festered this long must be due to sabotage. The powers that be don't want to be exposed, hence, opted to assassination. Also, that is why terrorist gumi is confident that the army cannot defeat terrorists.

May his soul and that of 10 others continue to rest in peace.

One day the truth about jubril from Sudan would be revealed. Prophet MNK said it, 2years after leaving office he would be pronounced dead and it played out exactly how he said it. A chief of army staff died and the president wasn't there to pay last respect 😄

Of course he was assassinated because Boko haram is in Nigeria government!

Dogalmighty17:
I hope this man is not in Nigeria at the moment. I mentioned this last week. The day president Tinubu decides to order a comprehensive audit of Nigerian armed forces finances as regards the war against terror, 2 things will happen.

1. Nationwide bombings, kidnappings and outright massacre of communities
2. The bloodiest coup in the history of this country will happen.

If we want to know why the war against Boko Haram has lasted this long, a quick look at the defence budget and associated expenditure will tell us. Follow the money.

But that will never happen.

Very correct

The Nigerian military has been corrupted and highly compromised

The military knows for certain that Boko haram is a threat they can wipe off like mosquitos but they are using people’s lives to play ludo and make money

The outsider can't be more powerful than the insider if the insider had not open its web from the inside.

Where is that midget called el rufai

OLAADEGBU:
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.

When we say Nigeria is an evil contraption people start insulting themselves.

If they could kpai their number 1 officer like a goat, no wonder general uba was also compromised.

Till now all of them are drinking tea in their office and laughing at the dead general.

Evil zoo

Hedonisco:
Burantaishi's foul odour reeks throughout this expose, even without a mention of his name.

you Sabi ball.

these are the evil men Nigerians celebrate.

They even rewarded him with ambassador

What a mess!!!

duduade:
You gorrit

That man is one of the very mistakes the Nigeria military ever produced

Snake man

Was it not the same man that disobeyed Buhari's order?

Buhari's govt still remains the most evil govt in the history of Nigeria. Under him, no evil was impossible. None of these write up was secret, unfortunately, Buhari was never "aware" because all the people involved were northerners, same religion and allies

After reading this enormous atrocious and weighty evil perpetrated under a Fulani militia Government, if you like, still advocate for another Fulani militia Government to displace a more moderate Southern presidency, because you hate Tinubu and his Yoruba tribe. (Na ur eyes go still peel).
The best President Donald Trump can do for Southern Nigeria 🇳🇬 Christians is to help divide this country. Nigeria may never get better. Just imagine, they've been fighting Bokoharam since 2010, even the Nigerian/Biafra civil war didn't last this long. I also pity and pour spit on any boy from the South that will be enlisted into the Nigerian Military 🪖. Instead, they should go and join agbero, it will be better for them.

No matter how you see it, no matter the fingers pointed , me and you both know there were few people that pulled the strings behind closed door. Today they are your leaders. There can never be a thorough investigation because it will get to your very number 1. Show me your president and I will show you my vice president. If you know , you know

All other COAS and CDS who have served after Attahiru have serious questions to answer.

Buratai does not smell good to me at this point..

Hmmm 🤔

Mynd lalasticlala seun move to FP

Wahhabism: wahhabism is a intolerant, puritanical, militant interpretation of Islam that calls for the wholesale destruction of the West/moderate Islam in a jihad of global proportions. These are the Islamic fundamentalist. These extremist are divided into Political, Scholarly and Jihadist.

Political - APC, Shettima, Matawalle , Buhari
Scholarly - Gumi, Sheikh Assim Al Hakeem
Jihadist - Shekau, al barnawi, Bello Turji, bandits .

The government needs to go after all of this people for complete eradication.

Oya , connect the dots 🤷🏿

Probing these weighty allegations would be like asking the Epstein files to be released 😒

It wasn't an assassination but an air accident due to very bad weather, an inexperienced and young crew who had to divert to the civilian air strip in Kaduna from their intended NAF air field.

On getting to Kaduna, bad weather forced the crew to attempt a landing in the neighbouring Kaduna civilian airport.

The ATC in Kaduna had closed as the airport was operating only daylight due to terrorist attack that occurred a few months prior.

There was no ATC clearance as ATC had shut down by 6pm and there was no communication with the crew and ATC to ascertain the wind field on landing.

The crew landed in a cross wind field which flipped one of the wings of the aircraft and had it flip and crash on the tarmac.

The aircraft had departed Abuja with a full tank of fuel and was meant to convey the COAS to Kano the next morning for an occasion there and return him back to Abuja.

The cause of that crash were bad weather and an inexperienced crew.

The COAS was shelduled to have taken off to Kaduna earlier on that same day but due to his tight schedule ,the flight was postponed later in the evening.

Its not known if the crew were briefed adequately on the rapidly detiorating weather at their destination or if they (young officers in their early 30s) were afraid to tell the COAS of the need to delay or cancel the flight.

There were no traces of any explosive material on the wreckage.

Adaisback:
No matter how you see it, no matter the fingers pointed , me and you both know there were few people that pulled the strings behind closed door. Today they are your leaders. There can never be a thorough investigation because it will get to your very number 1. Show me your president and I will show you my vice president. If you know , you know

The chain of events clearly showed that this was an avoidable accident if the crew had taken precautionary flight briefings and either suggested to the COAS to postpone or delay the flight.

Military pilots have a totally different orientation in operations from their civilian counterparts and are expected to carry out a mission no.matter the challenges

The 70s in the US marked the era of highest civilian air crashes and all were linked to pilot braggado with all these pilots being military trained veterans of the US air force, navy and Marines.

The US FAA had to review training of pilots henceforth to be more precautionary and safety bound than what it takes to be a military pilot.

The young and inexperienced crew of that ill fated flight were piloting a civilian twin turboprop aircraft and operating within civilian airspace control but being military officers, the trip that day was tested as a military exercise and mission to be accomplished.

How do you expect a young air force officer to tell a whole General of the Army that the mission can not go on due to bad weather?

Even if they had told the General would have insisted they continue the mission because even the General will not want to appear afraid of bad weather.

So make una rest.

It was obvious, even to the blind.

God rest his soul.

No one has seen the report of the crash, a friend of my family lost someone Dear in that flight. Where is Buhari today?

Every sane person person with conscience knows that is the solemn truth. God rest your soul Attahiru.