Retired Major‑General, Danjuma Ali‑Keffi, has revealed that a directive from the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari abruptly halted a large‑scale military offensive against bandits in the North West and North Central regions in 2021.
According to Sahara Reporters, the former General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division and head of the covert Operation Service Wide (OSW) made the disclosures in a detailed account of internal power struggles, alleged sabotage and policy choices which, according to him, crippled the fight against terrorism and banditry at the time.
Ali‑Keffi said his appointment as Commander of OSW, a specialised inter‑agency outfit focused on terror financing and high-level intelligence, was based on recommendations from intelligence chiefs, including the heads of the DSS, NIA, Defence Intelligence and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.
But that process reportedly angered then Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant‑General Tukur Buratai.
“Gen Tukur Buratai was unhappy with my appointment as the Commander OSW right from the start … he didn’t hide his annoyance with my appointment,” Ali‑Keffi claimed.
He recounted a tense late‑night meeting at Buratai’s residence in November 2020, shortly after news of his appointment broke at a National Security Council meeting.
During the encounter, he said, Buratai questioned his suitability, asserted that the task should instead go to Army Headquarters, and demanded all intelligence gathered be handed over so the Army.
“He then said the Nigerian Army would carry out the task within 48 hours without the OSW … he dismissed me and I left the Flag House,” Ali‑Keffi said, adding that he feared the meeting may have been recorded.
Days later, Buratai allegedly changed course, offering funds and logistics support to OSW. Ali‑Keffi, however, declined, suspicious that the vehicles and other assets might be compromised with tracking devices or booby-traps.
This internal friction, he said, marked the beginning of a deliberate undermining of OSW’s operations.
Ali‑Keffi further claimed that after his arrest and detention under the previous administration, there were credible intelligence reports suggesting a plan to frame him on trumped-up charges of treason, with intent to execute him by lethal injection or poisoning.
He said the OSW alerted a Western ally, prompting diplomatic intervention. “The US government then dispatched Anthony Blinken [then‑U.S. Secretary of State] to visit Nigeria two weeks into my detention to warn them not to harm me,” he alleged.
Sahara Reporters noted that the retired general accused top officials in the Buhari administration of involvement in illegal mining operations, networks he claims were tied to banditry and kidnappings across the North West and North Central.
“The previous administration was complicit in the banditry … due to the illegal mining activities that some key officials … were involved in collaboration with local and foreign private individuals,” he said.
Major Gains Aborted By 2021 Presidential Order
Ali‑Keffi pridefully recounted sweeping operations conducted under his command between April and May 2021, during which 1 Division cleared several bandit strongholds in Niger and Kaduna states, including the Alawa Forest, and rescued over 100 kidnapped victims.
Gangs were dislodged from areas such as Birnin Gwari, the Kuyello axis, Fatika, Kidandan, and around Kaduna International Airport. These operations allowed the reopening of the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari–Mokwa highway and eased pressure on the Kaduna–Abuja route.
Plans were underway to support 8 Division’s operations across Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara, with 1 Division providing rear security while 8 Division advanced into forest hideouts.
However, the 2021 order from the Presidency halted all operations. Ali‑Keffi claimed his team complied, but both commanders were removed before the agreed two‑week pause expired.
He said, “This operation commenced in June/July 2021. Note that at this time, Gen Attahiru had died and was replaced by Gen Faruk Yahaya.
“However, in late July 2021, I received directives from the Presidency to cease all offensive in the general area for a period of two weeks as the Fulani leadership had gotten in touch with the government that they would prevail on the various banditry groups which were of Fulani descent to disarm and stop their criminal activities as innocent Fulani’s were being caught up in the crossfire.
“I thought that the government was sincere and reluctantly halted the offensive alongside 8 Division. I communicated the directive verbally to Maj Gen Usman Yusuf, the GOC 8 Div at the time. I had little choice though as failure to comply with superior orders was a grave offence in the military.
“However, before the expiration of the two weeks, both the GOC 8 Div and myself were removed.”
He said these gains were the foundation for a joint operation with 8 Division, known as Operation FOREST SHIELD, designed to crush bandit groups in parts of Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara.
“Similarly, the Bandits operating in the North Central and North West zones were on the verge of capitulation in July/August 2021 until the administration gave them a reprieve or lifeline,” he said.
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