Retired Major General Danjuma Ali‑Keffi, former head of the covert Operation Service Wide (OSW), has alleged that the death of former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant‑General Ibrahim Attahiru, in the May 2021 Kaduna air disaster was not an accident but a deliberate elimination driven by “internal hostility, operational sabotage, and high‑level corruption.”
On May 21, 2021, Attahiru and 10 other senior military personnel died when their aircraft went down near the runway of Kaduna International Airport.
The victims were:
- Brigadier‑General Mohammed Abdulkadir
- Brigadier‑General Olatunji Olayinka
- Brigadier‑General Abdulrahman Kuliya
- Major Lawal Aliyu Hayat
- Major Nura Hamza
- Flight‑Lieutenant Alfred Ayodeji Olufade
- Flight‑Lieutenant Taiwo Olufemi Asaniyi
- Sergeant Umar Saidu
- Sergeant Adesina Isaiah
- Aircraftman Oyedepo Matthew
Ali‑Keffi, who said he personally observed the bodies, insisted the aircraft did not simply crash but “exploded” just above ground level. He argued that the injuries sustained were inconsistent with a typical crash.
According to him, some bodies were flung far from the point of impact, while Major Nura Hamza’s legs were “blown off from the knees down,” suggesting a blast inside the cabin.
In contrast, he said the two pilots’ bodies showed no burns and remained strapped to their seats, which he attributed to the armored cockpit door shielding them from the cabin blast.
Alleged Motive: Anti‑Corruption Drive
Ali‑Keffi claimed Attahiru was targeted because of his anti‑corruption stance. He said the late COAS had ordered a forensic audit of Army funds and equipment and was scheduled to act on the findings on Monday, May 24, 2021 — three days after his death.
As OSW commander, Ali‑Keffi said his team uncovered massive diversions of funds meant for counter‑terrorism operations and arrested terror financiers allegedly laundering money for senior military and government officials.
Ali‑Keffi recounted how Attahiru suspected leaks at Army Headquarters (AHQ). He said Attahiru once received intelligence that Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau was hiding in Maiduguri.
After informing a superior at AHQ, an unsecured directive was issued to capture Shekau. The insurgent fled before troops arrived, leading Attahiru to suspect he had been tipped off.
Ali‑Keffi also alleged that one sector commander was paying Boko Haram fighters to avoid attacks, describing the officer as the “godson” of a powerful superior.
Warnings About a Retired Officer
Ali‑Keffi said Attahiru warned him to avoid a retired senior officer suspected of engaging in harmful or “diabolical” activities.
Attahiru referred to the figure only as “that man” and spoke with unease whenever his name came up. He ordered Ali‑Keffi not to visit the officer’s private home, fearing harm.
Ali‑Keffi questioned why the full report of the National Air Accident Investigation Board has not been made public more than four years later.
The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) submitted an interim report in September 2021, containing 27 initial findings and eight safety recommendations.
In May 2022, the AIB announced that further investigation was suspended due to lack of cooperation, leaving the release of the full report at the discretion of the military.
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