Retired Army General, Ali-Keffi says Boko Haram sponsors have links with the Nigerian military—and they know something about the death of former Nigerian Chief Of Army Staff, Attahiru
General Ali-Keffi who had forcibly retired from military service, after 64 days of being detained for sharing information that revealed his comrades’ involvement in funding Boko Haram terrorism, said this in a letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu on January 22, 2024.
Ali-Keffi, during the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, was made the President of the Board of Inquiry (BOI) with members/secretary drawn from the NCS, NIS, DSS, NIA, ONSA, and NFIU which largely conducted its work as an investigative body on illegal oil activities, transactions and smugglings.
The General, who was the Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army, also in his letter to the president disclosed that all “procurement” of illegal arms used by “criminal organisations” in Nigeria are linked to the military.
He said this was the most baffling thing he had seen as a national service guard. And it was “worrisome” to realise that the least suspicious individuals in the Nigerian military were the terrorism sponsors.
“The most worrisome aspect was that some of the individuals involved in terrorism financing of Boko Haram terrorists and who were also involved in procurement and movement of arms and ammunition for Boko Haram and other criminal organisations had links with the military,” Ali-Keffi’s letter read.
“I was the President of the BOI with members/secretary drawn from the NCS, NIS, DSS, NIA, ONSA, NFIU as well as from the Board of Inquiry, which largely conducted its work as an investigative body tasked to investigate circumstances surrounding the illegal smuggling of petroleum products contained in 168 oil tankers into Benin Republic through a single smuggling route in Ilesa Barbara in Kwara State.”
He alleged that the rising issues of national terror have always dominated the Northeast, Northwest and North-central region of Nigeria, making these areas a “criminal enterprise” that is “largely undertaken with profit rather than any ideology” which is pointless.
“A syndicate which had an extensive network in the country as well as being affiliated to an international criminal network was the centre of moving finances for terrorism for other criminal activities stated above,” The General stated.
“It was thus apparent that terrorism and insurgency in the North-east, North-west and North-central were a criminal enterprise and were largely undertaken with profit rather than any ideology, as the primary motive.
“Thus, we, at the BoI, arrived at the obvious conclusion that progress cannot be achieved except the financiers, collaborators, supporters and the leadership of the terrorists and insurgents groups are identified and the network dismantled.”
The petition also revealed that the death of Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, who was his superior and supervisor when he served as the GOC, had been his most painful regret.
Ali-Keffi was removed from being the GOC 1 Mechanised Division, Kaduna, by the new army chief, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya.
“This substantiates the argument that some powerful persons in and outside government as well as from the military were uncomfortable with the task force and specifically my humble self as commander.
He entreated the president to “kindly” do something to see that he is given justice for what he had described as “maltreatment” by the Nigerian military” and review his “compulsory retirement” mandated by the same Nigerian army.
The General blamed the former president, Muhammadu Buhari for turning a blind eye to his “condition”, although he had been the one who appointed him to head that investigative body.
The letter further read, “Kindly cause an investigation into the circumstances surrounding my arrest, detention, maltreatment and compulsory retirement from the Nigerian Army.”
Ali-Keffi also demanded for due compensation for all the “injurious” that he had surgeferred during the 74 days i
“This should include compensation for the pains and injuries suffered while incarcerated and approval of personal security, ” he added.
Retired Army General, Ali-Keffi says Boko Haram sponsors have links with the Nigerian military—and they know something about the death of Former Nigerian Chief Of Army Staff, Attahiru.
