A retired high-ranking Nigerian military officer has revealed a potentially pivotal moment in the nation's fight against banditry, claiming that a directive from the presidency of Muhammadu Buhari in 2021 halted a major military offensive that was on the verge of crippling armed gangs in the country's northwest and north-central regions.
Retired Major-General Danjuma Ali-Keffi, who commanded the covert Operation Service Wide (OSW), detailed in a public account how his forces were making significant gains against bandits in states like Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara before being ordered to stand down. He alleges this pause, ostensibly to allow for negotiations with Fulani leadership, provided a crucial reprieve that allowed the bandits to regroup and survive.
"The bandits operating in the North Central and North West zones were on the verge of capitulation in July/August 2021," Ali-Keffi stated, "until the administration gave them a reprieve or lifeline."
A High-Stakes Operation Abruptly Halted
According to Ali-Keffi's account, by mid-2021, he had coordinated a sweeping operation that dislodged bandit gangs from strongholds in Alawa Forest and areas around Birnin Gwari, Fatika, and even the Kaduna International Airport. His forces rescued over 100 kidnapped victims, reopened critical highways, and laid the groundwork for a joint offensive with the 8 Division.
He claims this planned joint assault, dubbed "Operation Forest Shield," was designed to "crush bandit groups" across multiple states. However, in late July 2021, he says he received a direct order from the Presidency to cease all offensives for two weeks. The reason given was that "Fulani leadership had gotten in touch with the government," promising to persuade the bandit groups—described as being of Fulani descent—to disarm.
Ali-Keffi said he and the commander of the 8 Division reluctantly complied. "I had little choice though as failure to comply with superior orders was a grave offence in the military." Crucially, he alleges that before the two-week pause expired, both he and the commander of the 8 Division were removed from their posts, effectively terminating the operation.
Allegations of Internal Sabotage and Political Complicity
Beyond the halted operation, the retired general made explosive allegations about internal power struggles that he claims sabotaged the fight from within.
He stated that his appointment to lead OSW—an inter-agency task force on terror financing—was opposed from the outset by then Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, who allegedly demanded the intelligence and funds gathered by OSW be turned over to Army Headquarters. He even claimed to have declined logistical support from Buratai over fears vehicles would be "compromised with tracking devices or booby-traps."
Furthermore, Ali-Keffi accused top officials in the Buhari administration of being "complicit" in the banditry crisis due to their involvement in illegal mining activities in the northwest. "The previous administration was complicit in the banditry … due to the illegal mining activities that some key officials … were involved in," he claimed, suggesting that allowing banditry to fester served the interests of those profiting from illicit resource extraction.
Claims of a Staged Treason Plot and U.S. Intervention
In perhaps his most startling personal claim, Ali-Keffi alleged he was nearly framed for treason and executed after he was detained by the Buhari administration. He said credible intelligence suggested a plan to administer a lethal injection or poison.
To save his life, he claims his associates alerted a "Western ally." "The US government then dispatched Anthony Blinken [then-U.S. Secretary of State] to visit Nigeria two weeks into my detention to warn them not to harm me," Ali-Keffi stated, suggesting a dramatic international intervention prevented his execution.
A Missing Piece in the Insecurity Puzzle
Ali-Keffi's detailed testimony, if verified, would provide a crucial missing piece in understanding why Nigeria's military, despite localized successes, has struggled to deliver a decisive, lasting victory over banditry. His claims of operational momentum halted by political orders, undermined by internal rivalry, and overshadowed by alleged official corruption point to a war fought on multiple fronts—only some of which are on the battlefield.
The account raises profound questions about governance, military command, and the true priorities of past administrations during a period of escalating national crisis.
*Source: Sahara Reporters.*
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