In a groundbreaking development, retired Major General Danjuma Ali-Keffi, the former General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, has called upon Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to spearhead an investigation into the air crash that claimed the life of former Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru. Ali-Keffi alleges a potential link between the tragic incident and terror sponsors, urging swift justice for those involved.
The fatal crash occurred under mysterious circumstances near the Kaduna International Airport on May 21, 2021, during adverse weather conditions. While the Defence Headquarters initially attributed the incident to weather factors, Ali-Keffi, in an explosive interview with THISDAY, raised serious concerns about the true nature of the crash, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability.
Ali-Keffi highlighted a series of perplexing anomalies surrounding the incident, including abrupt changes in Attahiru’s travel plans, alterations to the aircraft, and a shift from a military airstrip to the Kaduna International Airport. He underscored stormy weather, a delayed flight, and an ominous explosion preceding the crash. Notably, he questioned the absence of a crater at the crash site and the bodies being flung from the aircraft, suggesting a potential mid-air explosion.
Drawing connections, Ali-Keffi linked the crash to Attahiru’s relentless efforts to combat insurgency in the northern regions. He revealed that Attahiru’s strategy involved infiltrating terror groups, causing internal conflicts among their leaders, and disrupting funding and logistics channels. The former GOC asserted that the late Army Chief’s dedication to dismantling terrorism financing networks might have led to his demise.
Ali-Keffi, who previously headed a presidential investigative task force, exposed senior government officials, a top banker, and military personnel involved in terrorism financing. He stressed the urgency of identifying financiers, collaborators, and supporters of terrorist groups, emphasizing that terrorism in Nigeria was primarily profit-driven.
Despite the Nigerian Air Force’s establishment of an audit committee and the submission of an interim report by the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Ali-Keffi raised compelling questions about the delayed flight, potential sabotage, and the nature of the explosion. He called for an exhaustive investigation into these aspects, demanding justice and transparency.
As calls for a comprehensive probe intensify, the Nigerian military community awaits answers, with the hope that the circumstances surrounding the tragic air crash will be unveiled, and accountability will prevail.
