Skip to main content

Retired General's Explosive Allegation: Claims Terror Financiers Linked to Fatal 2021 Crash That Killed Nigeria's Top Army Chief

A retired Nigerian Army general has reignited one of the nation's most shocking and mysterious tragedies, calling on President Bola Tinubu to reopen the investigation into the 2021 plane crash that killed Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and ten others, and alleging a possible link to terrorist sponsors.

In a bombshell interview, retired Major General Danjuma Ali-Keffi, who was the senior officer on the ground to receive General Attahiru in Kaduna, laid out a series of alarming inconsistencies surrounding the fatal flight, suggesting it was more than a simple weather-related accident. He described a chain of suspicious events, from last-minute schedule changes to alleged aircraft sabotage, that he believes point toward a deliberate plot to eliminate the military's top leader.

The Fateful Flight: A Timeline of Suspicion

The tragedy unfolded on May 21, 2021. General Attahiru, along with senior aides and crew, was en route from Abuja to Kaduna to attend a military passing-out parade the following day. Their Nigerian Air Force King Air 350 aircraft crashed in stormy weather while attempting to land at Kaduna International Airport, killing all on board.

Ali-Keffi, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division in Kaduna at the time, was awaiting the arrival. In his detailed account, he highlighted multiple red flags that he insists demand scrutiny:

*   Last-Minute Schedule Change: Attahiru's departure was reportedly delayed by several hours due to a mandatory, last-minute meeting in Abuja. Ali-Keffi questioned why the meeting was scheduled for the exact time of the planned departure and why the Chief of Army Staff was instructed he could not send a representative.
*   Aircraft Swaps and Delays: The flight was reportedly delayed at the Abuja airport due to "an issue" with the originally assigned aircraft, forcing a last-minute change to another plane.
*   Landing Location Change: Due to the severe weather in Kaduna, the pilot was directed to land at the longer runway of the international airport instead of the nearby military airstrip, adding complexity to the approach.
*   A Mid-Air "Explosion": Witnessing the crash, Ali-Keffi stated there was a "thunderous sound" before impact. He noted the wreckage was on flat ground with no crater, and the victims' bodies were found scattered and burned at a distance from the main fuselage. "This was indicative of a mid-air explosion," he asserted. "So, what caused the aircraft to explode?"

A Motive: Attahiru's Aggressive War on Terror

Ali-Keffi tied these suspicious circumstances directly to the work he and Attahiru were conducting. He revealed that he was simultaneously commanding a covert presidential task force, Operation Service Wide (OSW), with a mandate to dismantle terrorism financing networks. He claimed Attahiru appointed him as GOC to provide "cover" for these sensitive financial investigations.

According to the retired general, Attahiru had devised a comprehensive strategy to "end terrorism in the North," which included:

*   Infiltrating terror groups and sowing discord among their leaders (a tactic he credits for the eventual killing of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau by a rival faction).
*   Systematically targeting and eliminating terror financiers, described as the "oxygen" of the insurgency.

Ali-Keffi alleged that their investigations had uncovered a sprawling syndicate involved in smuggling, illegal mining, and large-scale money laundering that funded terrorism. Most alarmingly, he claimed the probe found that "some of the individuals involved in terrorism financing... had links with the military." He insinuates that powerful figures implicated by this investigation had a motive to stop Attahiru.

A Call for Answers and a Shadow Over History

The 2021 crash was investigated by the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) in collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force. An interim report containing 27 findings and 8 recommendations was submitted, but the full, final report was never made public.

Ali-Keffi's public plea to President Tinubu is a direct challenge to that official silence. "No less a person than the chief of army staff and 11 senior officers died in a 'suspicious' plane crash and the matter was swept under the carpet," he lamented. His testimony forces a difficult question: Did Nigeria's top soldier and his team die in an accident, or were they eliminated for getting too close to the powerful figures bankrolling the nation's insecurity?

The allegations, if ever fully investigated and proven, would represent one of the most consequential conspiracies in Nigeria's modern history, revealing a war within a war where the greatest threat to security came not from the bush, but from the heart of power itself.

*Source: This report is based on the exclusive interview with Maj. Gen. Danjuma Ali-Keffi (rtd) as published by Arise News.*
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

PERSONALITY: Profile of a Performer

  His smile is calm, his overall demeanor unassuming. But make no mistake; Akinwunmi Ambode is no push over. He is a man of high intellectual character. Starting his career at a very young age, Ambode rose to the very pinnacle of the Civil Service, by dint of hard work, focus and altruism. Above all, he always has his head clear, his goals and perspectives well conceived from the start. He doesn’t mince words. He neither gives vain flattery nor expects to receive it, as those who have come to know him will attest to. Read more, after the cut...
1 comment
Read more

Sheikh Gumi Alleges Foreign Powers are Financing Terrorists in Nigeria

Prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has accused unnamed foreign nations of supporting terrorist groups in Nigeria, citing a sudden reversal of security gains in recent months as evidence of external interference. In a significant and provocative claim, Nigerian Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has alleged that international actors are providing backing to terrorists operating within the country. During an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, Sheikh Gumi pointed to deteriorating security in areas that had shown marked improvement. He specifically highlighted the Abuja-Kaduna highway, which had become safer for travelers, and the farmlands around Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State, where farmers had cautiously returned to their fields after years of abandonment. "The situation on the ground contradicts earlier signs of improvement," Gumi stated, arguing that the recent surge in attacks suggests renewed support for armed groups. "This sudden rever...
Post a Comment
Read more

DSS Arrests Medical Doctor Accused of Supplying Drugs to Kwara Kidnapping Syndicate

Intelligence-led operation in Jebba uncovers healthcare professional allegedly aiding criminal networks. In a significant breakthrough, Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has apprehended a licensed medical doctor for his alleged role in supporting kidnapping gangs terrorizing parts of Kwara State. The arrest followed a targeted interception in the Jebba area, based on precise intelligence regarding the movement of supplies to criminal elements. According to security officials, the doctor was caught transporting medical provisions from Sokoto State intended for kidnappers operating within Kwara. This development suggests that recent security operations have been effective, leaving some gang members wounded and in urgent need of care. “These criminal networks are becoming increasingly desperate for medical assistance following sustained engagements with security forces,” a DSS official stated. The situation has prompted a security advisory for health fac...
Post a Comment
Read more