Imagine a shadow war unfolding in Nigeria, where covert operations and high-stakes intrigue brought down one of Africa's most feared terrorists—but not without betrayals that nearly unraveled it all. This gripping tale, shared by a seasoned insider, reveals how a clandestine military initiative chipped away at Boko Haram's grip, paving the way for the demise of its brutal leader, Abubakar Shekau. But here's where it gets controversial: was this success a triumph of strategy, or a casualty of political meddling and internal treachery? Stick around, because the twists and turns will have you questioning everything you thought you knew about counter-terrorism efforts in West Africa.
At the heart of this story is Operation Service Wide (OSW), a highly specialized inter-agency task force dedicated to tackling terrorism financing and gathering top-tier intelligence. It's like a secretive squad blending military prowess with financial sleuthing to cut off the lifeblood of extremist groups. A retired Nigerian Army Major General, Danjuma Ali-Keffi, who once commanded the 1 Division and led OSW, has spilled the beans on how this operation weakened Boko Haram—a jihadist insurgency notorious for brutal attacks, kidnappings, and bombings in Nigeria—and orchestrated the downfall of its infamous leader, Shekau. For those new to this, Boko Haram, meaning 'Western education is forbidden,' has terrorized the region since 2009, killing thousands and displacing millions. Ali-Keffi doesn't just recount victories; he points fingers at internal sabotage, political meddling, and high-level compromises that almost torpedoed the entire mission.
Under the late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, OSW collaborated with the 8 Division on a sweeping strategy to dismantle bandit and terrorist strongholds in states like Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara. Think of it as a coordinated assault to reclaim these areas from chaos, combining ground troops with intelligence to root out hidden threats. And this is the part most people miss: the operation wasn't just about bullets and bombs—it was a chess game of deception and disruption. OSW, remember, focused on terrorism financing and high-level intelligence, ensuring that funds drying up and secrets leaking out crippled the enemy's operations.
But in late July 2021, a bombshell directive from President Muhammadu Buhari's administration halted all activities for two weeks. This pause came after promises from Fulani leaders to convince bandit groups to lay down their arms—a move Ali-Keffi complied with out of military loyalty. Tragically, before those two weeks were up, both he and the General Officer Commanding the 8 Division were ousted from their roles. And here's where it gets controversial: was this a genuine peace effort, or a political maneuver that sabotaged hard-won progress? Ali-Keffi suggests the latter, alleging that such interference handed back ground to terrorists.
Compounding the setbacks was the devastating plane crash on May 21, 2021, that claimed the lives of Attahiru and Brigadier General Abdulrahman Kuliya, the Chief of Military Intelligence. This loss, Ali-Keffi laments, shattered OSW's momentum. Offensives ground to a halt, high-ranking Boko Haram commanders, financiers, and accomplices were set free, and troop morale plummeted. Soldiers felt betrayed, questioning the point of risking their lives when leadership seemed unreliable. It's a stark reminder of how one tragedy can ripple through an entire operation, eroding trust and resolve.
Yet, amid the gloom, Ali-Keffi shines a light on Kuliya's ingenious role in Shekau's elimination. As CMI, Kuliya leveraged OSW's resources to infiltrate Boko Haram's networks. His masterstroke? Feeding ISWAP—another extremist faction, often at odds with Boko Haram—false information about Shekau's plans. This clever ruse ignited infighting between the groups, weakening Boko Haram's Shekau-led faction and setting the stage for his death. Imagine pitting rivals against each other like a game of psychological warfare; it's a brilliant example of how intelligence can dismantle terror from within without firing a shot. Ali-Keffi credits Kuliya directly: 'A large part of the credit for the 'elimination' of Shekau goes to the late Brig. Gen. Abdulrahman Kuliya, the Chief of Military Intelligence (CMI), who died in the plane mishap along with Gen. Attahiru on May 21, 2021. It was he, based on the intelligence and funds that OSW provided him with, infiltrated the Boko Haram Terrorist network and setup the chain of events that culminated in the death and weakening of the Boko Haram Terrorist JAS faction. He (Kuliya) came up with the smart idea of playing the Boko Haram and ISWAP against one another by 'planting' information and misleading narratives of intentions of the Boko Haram to the ISWAP. This led to the infighting between the two which resulted in the weakening of the Shekau faction.'
Further amplifying the operation was Operation Forest Shield, a codename for efforts supporting the 8 Division along the Birnin Gwari–Tegina–Mokwa axis. This was spearheaded by an Igbo officer who, according to Ali-Keffi, excelled in his duties, showcasing how diverse leadership can strengthen national security.
Ali-Keffi also opens up about personal tensions with former Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai. He discovered leaks of OSW's secrets through connections to Modibbo Hamman-Tukur, then-Director of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). Buratai and Hamman-Tukur's brother were close, attending the same school, which Ali-Keffi believes facilitated the breaches. As a result, he became hyper-vigilant with sensitive data. 'Regarding Buratai’s dislike for me, I recall that on several occasions, the former Director NFIU told me that Buratai didn’t like me. I later learned that Buratai and Modibbo Hamman-Tukur’s elder brother were friends and attended the same school. I could now understand how some of information on OSW activities were being leaked. Consequently, I became extra careful with Hamman-Tukur.' And here's a controversial twist: Ali-Keffi claims Hamman-Tukur almost blew the entire cover by pushing for a joint world press conference to snatch credit, which could have tipped off Boko Haram and their global supporters. It's a prime example of how ego and ambition can jeopardize national security.
The drama escalated after Ali-Keffi's arrest and 64-day detention. OSW uncovered intelligence that elements from the previous administration plotted to frame him for treason and assassinate him via lethal injection or poison. Alerting a Western ally led to swift U.S. intervention: just two weeks into his confinement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Nigeria to issue a stern warning against harming him. This international pressure underscores the global stakes in Nigeria's fight against terrorism.
Finally, Ali-Keffi alleges that officials from the last administration enabled the surge in banditry and kidnappings in the North West and North Central regions, fueled by illegal mining operations involving both domestic and foreign players. This paints a picture of corruption intertwining with crime, where economic greed may have outweighed security. But here's where it gets really controversial: could this be a partisan smear, or a legitimate call for accountability? And this is the part most people miss: how mining interests, often linked to gold or other resources, might be funding instability, turning the fight against terror into a battle against hidden economic wars.
What do you think? Was this covert operation a heroic feat of intelligence, or a story marred by political betrayals? Do you agree that leadership changes and interferences derailed progress, or see it as necessary checks and balances? Share your views in the comments—do you believe such allegations deserve more scrutiny, or are they just bitter grievances from a disgruntled officer? Let's discuss and unpack this together!
