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Retired General Reveals How ‘Directives’ From Buhari Govt Stopped Operation Against Bandits
Retired Major‑General, Danjuma Ali‑Keffi, has revealed that a directive from the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari abruptly halted a large‑scale military offensive against bandits in the North West and North Central regions in 2021.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
According to Sahara Reporters, the former General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division and head of the covert Operation Service Wide (OSW) made the disclosures in a detailed account of internal power struggles, alleged sabotage and policy choices which, according to him, crippled the fight against terrorism and banditry at the time.
Ali‑Keffi said his appointment as Commander of OSW, a specialised inter‑agency outfit focused on terror financing and high-level intelligence, was based on recommendations from intelligence chiefs, including the heads of the DSS, NIA, Defence Intelligence and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.
But that process reportedly angered then Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant‑General Tukur Buratai.
“Gen Tukur Buratai was unhappy with my appointment as the Commander OSW right from the start … he didn’t hide his annoyance with my appointment,” Ali‑Keffi claimed.
He recounted a tense late‑night meeting at Buratai’s residence in November 2020, shortly after news of his appointment broke at a National Security Council meeting.
During the encounter, he said, Buratai questioned his suitability, asserted that the task should instead go to Army Headquarters, and demanded all intelligence gathered be handed over so the Army.
“He then said the Nigerian Army would carry out the task within 48 hours without the OSW … he dismissed me and I left the Flag House,” Ali‑Keffi said, adding that he feared the meeting may have been recorded.
Days later, Buratai allegedly changed course, offering funds and logistics support to OSW. Ali‑Keffi, however, declined, suspicious that the vehicles and other assets might be compromised with tracking devices or booby-traps.
This internal friction, he said, marked the beginning of a deliberate undermining of OSW’s operations.
Ali‑Keffi further claimed that after his arrest and detention under the previous administration, there were credible intelligence reports suggesting a plan to frame him on trumped-up charges of treason, with intent to execute him by lethal injection or poisoning.
He said the OSW alerted a Western ally, prompting diplomatic intervention. “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,” he alleged.
Sahara Reporters noted that the retired general accused top officials in the Buhari administration of involvement in illegal mining operations, networks he claims were tied to banditry and kidnappings across the North West and North Central.
“The previous administration was complicit in the banditry … due to the illegal mining activities that some key officials … were involved in collaboration with local and foreign private individuals,” he said.
Major Gains Aborted By 2021 Presidential Order
Ali‑Keffi pridefully recounted sweeping operations conducted under his command between April and May 2021, during which 1 Division cleared several bandit strongholds in Niger and Kaduna states, including the Alawa Forest, and rescued over 100 kidnapped victims.
Gangs were dislodged from areas such as Birnin Gwari, the Kuyello axis, Fatika, Kidandan, and around Kaduna International Airport. These operations allowed the reopening of the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari–Mokwa highway and eased pressure on the Kaduna–Abuja route.
Plans were underway to support 8 Division’s operations across Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara, with 1 Division providing rear security while 8 Division advanced into forest hideouts.
However, the 2021 order from the Presidency halted all operations. Ali‑Keffi claimed his team complied, but both commanders were removed before the agreed two‑week pause expired.
He said, “This operation commenced in June/July 2021. Note that at this time, Gen Attahiru had died and was replaced by Gen Faruk Yahaya.
“However, in late July 2021, I received directives from the Presidency to cease all offensive in the general area for a period of two weeks as the Fulani leadership had gotten in touch with the government that they would prevail on the various banditry groups which were of Fulani descent to disarm and stop their criminal activities as innocent Fulani’s were being caught up in the crossfire.
“I thought that the government was sincere and reluctantly halted the offensive alongside 8 Division. I communicated the directive verbally to Maj Gen Usman Yusuf, the GOC 8 Div at the time. I had little choice though as failure to comply with superior orders was a grave offence in the military.
“However, before the expiration of the two weeks, both the GOC 8 Div and myself were removed.”
He said these gains were the foundation for a joint operation with 8 Division, known as Operation FOREST SHIELD, designed to crush bandit groups in parts of Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara.
“Similarly, the Bandits operating in the North Central and North West zones were on the verge of capitulation in July/August 2021 until the administration gave them a reprieve or lifeline,” he said.
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The Kano State Government has announced that the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, will lead this year’s Eid-el-Fitr Durbar, even as it unveiled strict guidelines to prevent a breakdown of law and order during the celebrations.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
The government said the decision, approved by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, followed credible intelligence reports indicating attempts by some individuals to create unrest during the Sallah period.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, the government said it remained committed to preserving Kano’s cultural heritage but would prioritise peace and security.
According to the statement, Hawan Idi (Eid Durbar) will be conducted by Emir Sanusi from the Kofar Mata Eid Ground through designated routes to Gidan Shettima, terminating at Kofar Fatalwa of the emir’s palace.
It added that Hawan Nasarawa would be held in a modified form without horseback displays, while Hawan Daushe, Hawan Fanisau and Hawan Dorayi have been suspended for the time being in the interest of public safety.
The government said all security agencies had been directed to intensify surveillance and ensure strict compliance with the directives before, during and after the festive period.
It urged residents to remain calm, law-abiding and cooperative with security agencies, while cautioning against the spread of unverified information.
The government further assured the public of its commitment to a peaceful and hitch-free Sallah celebration, wishing Muslims in the state a joyous Eid-el-Fitr.
The Durbar, a centuries-old cultural procession, has been thrown into uncertainty following conflicting statements from government officials on whether it will hold this year, given the unresolved legal battle between Sanusi II and Aminu Ado Bayero.
While Governor Yusuf reinstated Sanusi II in 2024, Bayero continues to contest his dethronement in court, leaving the emirship in dispute.
The government recently hinted that the stool controversy would soon be resolved.
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Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has dismissed comments by human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, over what he described as transactional politics and activism.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
PUNCH Online reports that Sowore’s comment followed a viral video in which the activist criticised what he described as “transactional politics” among some regional agitators and influencers, accusing them of aligning with political actors for personal or material benefit.
In the video, Sowore appeared to reference Igboho, suggesting that his recent political positions, including support for President Bola Tinubu’s potential re-election bid, reflected what he termed “amala politics” — a colloquial expression often used to imply opportunistic or interest-driven engagement rather than principled activism.
Igboho, in a statement issued by his media aide, Olayomi Koiki, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Tuesday, criticised Sowore for allegedly describing his activism as “amala politics” in a recent viral video circulating on social media.
He described the comment as an inconsequential rant that should be ignored by the public.
Igboho argued that his agitation for improved security in the South-West and his support for the second-term bid of President Bola Tinubu in 2027 were constitutional rights aimed at promoting the collective interests of the Yoruba people and the development of Nigeria.
He said, “We strongly reject the characterisation of Igboho’s activism as transactional. Such a myopic position misrepresents the intent and focus of our agitation on effective grassroots security in the South-West and Nigeria as a whole.
“How many protests did Sowore organise to push for my freedom? Sowore’s claim of fighting for the masses contradicts his alleged daily lodging expenses of N450,000 at a popular Lagos hotel.
“I cannot be compelled to endorse political figures such as Peter Obi or Atiku Abubakar, or even align with Sowore’s political platform. I have the right to make independent political decisions based on the security and collective interests of the Yoruba people.”
He added that Igboho’s advocacy prioritises addressing insecurity across Yorubaland, including killings of farmers, kidnappings along highways and attacks on traditional rulers and royal institutions.
Koiki, however, clarified that these concerns form the basis of Igboho’s movement rather than any ambition for political office or revolutionary leadership.
The statement added, “While Sowore has consistently promoted nationwide revolution as a pathway to leadership, Igboho’s approach is rooted in protecting lives, land and property within Yoruba territory. This agitation is a response to real and ongoing threats faced by communities in the region.
“Latest security incidents in northern Nigeria, including reported explosions in Maiduguri on March 16, 2026, also raise questions about the broader effectiveness of long-term revolutionary advocacy.
“We challenge Sowore to assess the situation in his home state of Ondo State, considering the growing cases of banditry, kidnapping and attacks on rural communities.”
The statement added that the impact of insecurity on vulnerable groups, including farmers, traditional rulers, women and children, had been severe, with several communities reportedly affected.
“These realities reinforce Igboho’s long-standing call since 2020 for localised security measures and stronger regional protection strategies.
“Labelling our agitation and efforts as ‘amala politics’ undermines the urgency of the security crisis and the legitimacy of grassroots agitation,” the statement concluded
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The continuous detention of the former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has sparked reactions from politicians and socio-political activists.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
DAILY POST reports that the former governor has been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, over an ongoing investigation into alleged financial impropriety when he was governor.
El-Rufai had earlier spent two nights in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before he was picked up by the Department of State Services and then later handed over to the ICPC.
His continuous detention has sparked outrage among citizens who are calling on the commission to immediately charge the former governor to court.
Popular socio-political activist, Aisha Yesufu, said in a post on X that “holding a citizen indefinitely without trial” is impossible.
According to her, “that is not justice. That is not accountability. That begins to look like persecution.
“Every Nigerian, no matter how powerful or unpopular, has the right to a fair hearing. That right is not a favour from the government. It is a constitutional guarantee. If El-Rufai committed crimes, then prosecute him. Nigerians will support that. But what we must never
Support is a system where the government can detain anyone endlessly, simply because it can.
“Today, it may be El-Rufai. Tomorrow, it could be anyone else who speaks or acts in a way that those in power do not like. A democracy must be better than that.
“So the message is simple: charge him in court or release him. Let justice be done openly, lawfully, and transparently. That is the only way a nation that claims to respect the rule of law should act”.
Similarly, an activist lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, in an interview he posted on X on Wednesday, demanded that the former governor be charged to court immediately, condemning El-Rufai’s incarceration.
“No matter the allegations, I think he should be charged in a court of competent jurisdiction so that he can face the music.
“All these things currently going on don’t look tidy to me”, he said.
On his part, Paul Ibe, a media aide to the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, lambasted ICPC for not charging the former governor to court.
In a statement on his X handle, Ibe accused the Commission of taking sides with the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
He wrote, “The matter of the former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai @elrufai has proven beyond measure that the ‘I’ in ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission) @icpcnigeria represents Illegal or Irresponsible.
“There’s nothing Independent about the Commission. They’re no different from all the other institutions of state that are standing on Tinubu’s mandate. The ICPC is nauseatingly pliable and has disgracefully made itself available in coercing members of the opposition into the ruling party”!
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