How Buhari Government Orders Stopped Military Action Against Bandits – Retired General

According to retired Major-General Danjuma Ali-Keffi, a large-scale military offensive against bandits in the North West and North Central areas in 2021 was abruptly stopped by an order from the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Sahara Reporters claims that the former General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division and head of the clandestine Operation Service Wide (OSW) made the revelations in a thorough description of internal power struggles, purported sabotage, and policy decisions that, in his opinion, severely hampered the battle against banditry and terrorism at the time.

Ali-Keffi stated that recommendations from intelligence chiefs, such as the heads of the DSS, NIA, Defense Intelligence, and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, led to his appointment as Commander of OSW, a specialized interagency group focused on terror financing and high-level intelligence.

However, that procedure apparently infuriated Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff at the time.

“Gen Tukur Buratai didn’t conceal his dissatisfaction with my appointment as the Commander OSW from the beginning,” Ali-Keffi asserted.

He described a heated late-night discussion at Buratai’s home in November 2020, just after the announcement of his appointment at a meeting of the National Security Council.

He claimed that at the meeting, Buratai questioned his suitability, insisted that Army Headquarters should handle the assignment instead, and insisted that all intelligence be turned over to the Army.

He went on to say that without the OSW, the Nigerian Army would complete the mission in 48 hours. “I left the Flag House after he dismissed me,” Ali-Keffi claimed, expressing concern that the encounter might have been taped.

Buratai apparently changed its mind a few days later and offered OSW financial and logistical support. However, Ali-Keffi declined, believing that tracking devices or booby traps could damage the vehicles and other assets.

He said that this internal conflict signaled the start of an intentional weakening of OSW’s operations.

Ali-Keffi additionally stated that there were reliable intelligence information indicating a plot to frame him on false accusations of treason with the intention of killing him by poisoning or lethal injection following his arrest and confinement under the previous regime.

He claimed that once the OSW notified a Western ally, diplomatic action was taken. Two weeks into my arrest, he claimed, “the US government then sent Anthony Blinken [then-US Secretary of State] to visit Nigeria to warn them not to harm me.”

According to Sahara Reporters, the retired general accused senior Buhari government officials of being involved in illicit mining operations and networks connected to kidnappings and banditry in the North Central and North West.

He declared, “The previous administration was complicit in the banditry because some key officials were involved in illegal mining activities in cooperation with local and foreign private individuals.”

Significant Gains Lost By 2021 Presidential Order Ali-Keffi proudly described the sweeping operations he oversaw between April and May 2021, when 1 Division liberated over 100 abducted victims and eradicated several bandit strongholds in Niger and Kaduna states, notably the Alawa Forest.

In places like Birnin Gwari, the Kuyello axis, Fatika, Kidandan, and the vicinity of Kaduna International Airport, gangs were driven out. The Kaduna–Birnin Gwari–Mokwa highway was able to reopen thanks to these efforts, which also reduced traffic on the Kaduna–Abuja route.

Plans were in place to support 8 Division’s operations in Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara. 8 Division would advance into woodland hideouts while 1 Division would provide rear security.

But the Presidency’s 2021 directive put a stop to all activities. Although both commanders were dismissed before the prearranged two-week respite ended, Ali-Keffi claimed his men obeyed.

“This operation began in June/July 2021,” he stated. At this point, Gen. Attahiru had passed away, and Gen. Faruk Yahaya had taken his post.

However, in late July 2021, I received orders from the Presidency to stop all offensive in the general area for two weeks. This was because the Fulani leadership had informed the government that they would defeat the various Fulani-derived banditry groups and put an end to their illegal activities because innocent Fulani were being caught in the crossfire.

“I believed that the administration was earnest when they reluctantly stopped the offensive with 8 Division. Maj Gen Usman Yusuf, the GOC 8 Div at the time, was informed of the command verbally. However, since disobeying instructions from superiors was a serious infraction in the military, I was left with little option.

“However, I was removed along with the GOC 8 Div before the two-week period expired.”

According to him, these victories served as the basis for Operation FOREST SHIELD, a joint operation with 8 Division that was intended to dismantle bandit organizations in areas of Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara.

“In a similar vein, in July and August of 2021, the Bandits operating in the North Central and North West zones were about to surrender until the administration granted them a reprieve or lifeline,” he stated.