Retired General Alleges Terror Financiers Were Freed Under Buhari Government

Retired General Alleges Terror Financiers Were Freed Under Buhari Government

A retired Major-General of the Nigerian Army, Danjuma Hamisu Ali-Keffi, has alleged that terrorism financing suspects held in military custody were released under suspicious circumstances during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, raising fresh concerns over counterterrorism efforts in Nigeria.

Ali-Keffi, who was appointed in October 2020 to lead Operation Service Wide (OSW)—a covert presidential task force on terrorism financing—said the releases occurred shortly after moves were made to force him out of the army. OSW comprised personnel from the military, security and intelligence agencies, and legal officers from the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, and was mandated to arrest, investigate and prosecute terror financiers and collaborators.

Speaking in an interview, the retired general claimed that all terrorism financing suspects in army custody were freed, describing the development as evidence of deep compromise. He alleged that the then Chief of Army Staff, Farouk Yahaya, acting under the influence of Tukur Buratai, a former army chief, orchestrated his removal to pave the way for the releases.

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Ali-Keffi further claimed that Buratai influenced Yahaya’s appointment as army chief following the death of Lt-Gen Ibrahim Attahiru in 2021. He also accused Abubakar Malami, former Attorney-General of the Federation, of playing a key role in the alleged release of the suspects, noting that Malami’s office was responsible for advising on prosecutions or releases where evidence was deemed insufficient.

According to Ali-Keffi, it was improbable that the suspects could have been freed without the knowledge and consent of the attorney-general, adding that some of the suspects were allegedly linked to senior government and military officials. He also raised alarm over the alleged diversion of counterterrorism funds, stating that Nigeria has spent billions of dollars on counterinsurgency since 2010 with limited results due to misappropriation.

He disclosed that investigations by OSW, working with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), uncovered large-scale money laundering, including the use of bureau de change businesses as fronts for terrorism financing. Ali-Keffi stressed that the misapplication of counterterrorism funds was as dangerous as direct financing of terrorist groups.

The retired officer revealed that OSW had gathered extensive evidence against 48 terrorism financing suspects, including intelligence from the United Arab Emirates and Western security agencies, describing their wholesale release without convictions as “beyond belief”.

He called for a thorough investigation into Operation Service Wide, insisting that only an independent probe would uncover the truth behind the alleged release of the suspects and restore credibility to Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.

Retired General Alleges Terror Financiers Were Freed Under Buhari Government