ABUJA, Nigeria — In a letter that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s security establishment, retired Major General Danjuma Ali-Keffi has accused powerful actors within the government and military of sabotaging a major counter-terrorism operation that he led—one which he claims uncovered the “real leader” of Boko Haram and a web of high-level financiers.
Ali-Keffi, a former General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Nigerian Army’s 1 Division, was reportedly appointed to lead “Operation Service Wide,” a covert and presidentially mandated task force created to dismantle the structural and financial foundations of terrorism in Nigeria.
In his letter, addressed directly to President Bola Tinubu and now in the public domain, the retired general recounted that rather than being recognised for his efforts, he was subjected to forced retirement, arrest, and 64 days in solitary confinement after the operation began revealing links between Boko Haram’s funding networks and senior figures within Nigeria’s political, military, and financial institutions.
“The moment we arrested some of these individuals and started exposing the financial pipelines of terror, the backlash began,” Ali-Keffi wrote, suggesting a systemic attempt to suppress the findings of the operation.
He further alleged that the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, who died in a plane crash in 2021, was a key supporter of the operation and had shown intent to pursue the terror financiers identified by the task force.
Without making a direct accusation, Ali-Keffi called for a re-investigation into Attahiru’s death, hinting that it may not have been accidental.
“The late COAS was committed to going after the financiers. His support was unwavering. I urge Mr. President to open a transparent inquiry into both his tragic death and the broader sabotage of Nigeria’s fight against terrorism,” the letter read.
The allegations, while unverified, have sparked intense debate and demands for a full investigation.
Security analysts say the claims, if substantiated, could expose a dangerous internal contradiction in Nigeria’s long-standing war against insurgency—where efforts to dismantle terror infrastructure are allegedly thwarted by interests within the state.
The federal government has yet to issue an official response, but pressure is mounting from civil society organisations, retired military officers, and opposition figures, many of whom are calling for immediate action.
“This is not a letter to be ignored. It is a national alarm,” said a retired security official familiar with Operation Service Wide, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“The question now is whether the administration has the political will to confront the implications.”
