Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja, Nigeria — Retired Major General Danjuma Hamisu Ali‑Keffi (rtd.) has made explosive allegations claiming that Nigeria’s counter‑terrorism efforts were systematically undermined by powerful interests within the government and security establishment, sparking a political and security controversy that has drawn attention from civil society groups and government critics alike.
In a letter to foreign leaders and public statements first reported in national media, Ali‑Keffi, a former senior army commander who once led a covert Presidential Task Force known as Operation Service Wide (OSW), said that his team uncovered deep financial networks supporting extremist groups, including links between terror suspects and senior officials, military officers and influential institutions. He alleges that the investigation was deliberately sabotaged and that pressure was applied to derail accountability.
According to the retired officer, OSW, created under the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, was tasked with identifying financiers, sponsors and collaborators of Boko Haram and other extremist groups. The operation reportedly traced hundreds of suspects, including what Ali‑Keffi described as “key terror figures,” and mapped financial flows tied to insurgent activity.
In recent disclosures, Ali‑Keffi alleged that some of the individuals identified during the probe had associative links — though not necessarily culpability — with top government figures, including former Chief of Army Staff Lt.‑Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd.), former AGF Abubakar Malami (SAN), ex‑Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele and another former Army Chief Lt.‑Gen. Faruk Yahaya (rtd.). He stated that these connections emerged from call data records and intelligence links unearthed during the probe, but stressed that he was not accusing them of financing terrorism directly.
The retired general also said that following early successes — including the arrest of terror suspects and uncovering financial networks — pressure mounted to release detainees and downgrade terrorism financing charges to less serious offences, a move he claims was intended to shift cases to other agencies where influence could blunt prosecutorial impact. He further asserted that many suspects were ultimately released without charge after the OSW mandate was diluted.
Ali‑Keffi’s account also recounts his detention in 2021 for 64 days, solitary confinement without charge, and subsequent compulsory retirement, which he attributes to backlash against his refusal to comply with orders to release suspects or compromise the investigation. He said the military’s leadership changes and operational setbacks — including what he described as suspicious delays and shifts in support — undermined OSW’s effectiveness.
The retired general’s appeal for international protection — made in letters to the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union — alleges that his safety and that of his family are at risk due to his whistle‑blowing. These claims have not been independently verified by foreign governments or international bodies. National reactions have been swift and divided. Former officials named or alluded to in the allegations have firmly denied wrongdoing. Statements from representatives of Buratai and former CBN Governor Emefiele described the suggestions as baseless and fabricated, emphasising they have never been implicated in terrorism financing by any security or regulatory authority. Other denials similarly reject any connection to the retired general’s claims, characterising the narrative as misleading and politically charged.
A lawmaker also publicly rejected claims linking Buratai to terrorism financing, urging caution and clarity in public discourse while emphasising respect for due process and verified evidence.
Civil society voices have called for an independent, transparent inquiry into the allegations — not just limited to the retired general’s account but examining the broader integrity of counter‑terrorism and anti‑financing frameworks. A youth entrepreneur initiative last week urged the Federal Government to thoroughly investigate any credible links between terrorism financing and powerful actors, insisting on accountability regardless of status.
Security analysts note that terrorism financing investigations are inherently complex, requiring close cooperation among intelligence, financial regulators and prosecutorial bodies. They caution that without transparency, allegations — whether accurate or exaggerated — can damage public confidence in security institutions and fuel scepticism about whether political interference compromises Nigeria’s counter‑terrorism efforts.
The Federal Government has yet to issue an official response addressing the substance of Ali‑Keffi’s claims. For now, the matter continues to circulate in political and public circles, reflecting deep anxieties about the intersection of security, power and accountability in one of West Africa’s most enduring conflicts.
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