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Retired Major General Danjuma Ali-Keffi, former General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, has raised serious concerns about the fatal air crash that claimed the life of former Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, and 11 other senior military officers.

In an exclusive interview with THISDAY, Ali-Keffi contends that the crash is intricately linked to terror financiers, urging President Bola Tinubu to launch an immediate investigation into the incident.

Ali-Keffi, who expressed his reservations about the official investigation, alleges a deliberate suppression of critical details surrounding the crash.

He emphasized that the full report of the investigation has not been disclosed to the public, adding an air of suspicion to the circumstances leading up to the tragic incident.

The retired general asserts that Attahiru was pivotal in formulating strategies to eradicate terrorism in Northern Nigeria.

Ali-Keffi contends that the late army chief’s efforts to tackle terrorism extended to exposing and neutralizing terror financiers.

In a detailed account of the events leading to the crash, Ali-Keffi raises questions about the abrupt changes in the scheduled trip, alterations in the choice of aircraft, and modifications in the landing airport.

He points to a sequence of unusual events, including the aircraft’s descent in stormy weather, a delayed departure, and an ear-shattering explosion before the crash, casting doubt on the official narrative.

Ali-Keffi explained, “About 2100 hrs on Thursday 20 May 2021, I spoke on phone with the Chief of Staff (COS) to the late COAS regarding their impending trip to Kaduna the following day (21 May 2021).

I had earlier spoken with General Attahiru on the same issue. We ended our conversation on the note that the late COAS and entourage would come by flight at about 1000 hrs the following day.

“About 0630 hrs the following morning, I called the COS to the late COAS to confirm if their travel plan was as we discussed the night before, as I needed to make arrangements for the Mosque that the COAS would attend Jummu’at (Friday) prayers.

“The COS informed me that there was a change of plan. He said after we finished speaking last night, they received a message that the late COAS was to attend a meeting either at the Honourable Minister of Defence (HMOD) office or at the Presidential Villa at about 1000 hrs on Friday 21 May 2021 and that the late COAS was to attend in person and not send a representative.

“It is important to note that the late COAS’ trip to Kaduna was part of his visit to Zaria to attend the Passing Out Parade at the Depot NA slated for Saturday 22 May 2021.

“It is worth noting that the movement of service chiefs out of station (Abuja) is with the prior knowledge of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the Honourable Minister of Defence (HMOD), and the presidency.

“So, why was a meeting scheduled for about the same time that the late COAS was to have departed for (or arrived) Kaduna and why the insistence that he (COAS) should not be represented?

“In any case, the COS informed me that in view of the meeting, they would depart the Flag House (official residence of the COAS) at about 1530 hrs (after attending the meeting and also after the Jummu’ at prayers) for the airport.

“They expected to arrive the airport at about 1600 hrs, board the aircraft at about 1610 – 1615 hrs and depart for Kaduna. At about 1600 hrs, I was informed that they had arrived the Presidential Wing of the Airport. I then set off from the Stallion House (official residence of the GOC) with my entourage in a convoy and arrived the Air Force Base at about 1615 hrs.

“For reasons that I cannot understand till today, the flight was delayed for over an hour and did not take off until 1730 hrs or there about. The reason for the delay, as I was informed, was that there was issue with the aircraft that was initially assigned for the mission (to convey the COAS and his entourage) and that it had to be changed.”

Ali-Keffi also disclosed, “Meantime, there was a meteorological alert that Kaduna airspace was going to experience heavy rainfall accompanied with the storm (wind shear), and it was advised. Already, the cloud had formed in Kaduna, which was visible to us at the airport.

“As a matter of fact, the cloud was so thick, which was indicative of a massive storm. I began to nurse doubts about the flight. At some point, I voiced my doubts to Air Commodore Iyamu and Air Commodore Ilo, who were with me to receive the COAS.

“I even suggested that they should advise Abuja of weather conditions with a view to having the flight cancelled. At that point, I was informed that the aircraft was airborne (at about 1745 hrs). I became concerned as to whether the aircraft would be able to land at the airport in such a heavy rainfall, storm (the rain had started falling then).

“Thus, I was not surprised when Air Commodore Ilo informed me that we had go to the Civil (International Airport) as the NAF runway was not long enough to enable the aircraft land under the atrocious weather condition. We then set off for the International Airport but at a snail speed due to the heavy rainfall, which was accompanied with shale (ice particles).”

The former GOC said, “When we got to the vicinity of the airport, there was a thunderous sound, which I thought was the sound of thunder. We had earlier cited what I believed was the aircraft descending to land on the runway. When we turned the bend to enter the tarmac, the thought on my mind was that the aircraft had touched down and was taxing to the parking area.

“I couldn’t see any aircraft on the runway. I frantically looked around, and by the far side of the runway, there was a fireball. It was the aircraft conveying General Attahiru! We got out the vehicles, crossed the runway and approached the burning aircraft. Fire fighters were on hand to put out the blaze. At some point we had to pull back due to the fear of exploding cylinders.

“We later recovered the corpses of the 10 passengers on board the ill-fated plane far from where the plane wreckage was. Apparently, their bodies, which were on fire, were flung from the aircraft before it came down (already in flames). Furthermore, the aircraft (or what was left of it), at least what I could recollect, was on a relatively flat grassland.

“There was no crater. This was indicative of a mid-air explosion. So, what caused the aircraft to explode? I wonder what the Air Safety and Accident Investigation Bureau report says about the incident.”

Ali-Keffi further queried, “Was the flight deliberately delayed in order to be caught up in the rainstorm? Was the aircraft sabotaged, which caused it to explode mid-air? Was the explosion caused by explosives? Was a bomb planted in the aircraft or contained in a parcel, which a passenger unknowingly (or knowingly) carried?”

The British Council in Nigeria has again increased the fee for the English Language Testing System examinations by 29%.

According to a notice published on the councils’ website, applicants will now pay the sum of N139,000 for the Computer Academic and General Training Modules from February 1, 2024.

The examination is widely accepted globally by non-native English speakers as evidence of their language proficiency.

The council blamed the change in fee on the hike in the costs of conducting the examination.

“We would like to inform you that there has been a review of our IELTS fees. The new price list of the IELTS range of tests offered by the British Council will be effective for registrations on or after 1 February 2024.

“The new prices will be:
IELTS on Computer Academic and General Training Modules: ₦139,000
IELTS on Paper Academic and General Training Modules: ₦134,000
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI): ₦149,000
Life Skills: ₦130,000
One Skill Retake (O.S.R): ₦87,570

“The change in price is associated with the increased costs of the delivery of our exams. This will enable us to continue to offer a wide range of services and comprehensive support to enable you to achieve your goals.

“Thank you for choosing the British Council,” the notice read.

This is the second time in five months the price has been jerked.

In September 2023, the Council increased the fee for the examination from between N80,000 to N90,000 to N107,500.

Five of the six sisters of the Al-Kadriyar family who were kidnapped by bandits in the Bwari area of Abuja recently have regained their freedom on Saturday night.

As of the time of filing this report, our correspondent could not independently verify whether the girls were rescued by security operatives or were released after their family paid ransom.

However, an uncle to the girls, Kabiru Aminu, who disclosed the news of their release, posted a video on his X handle @kabiru_aminu, showing the sisters and their relatives jubilating.

“#Najeebahandhersisters are home right now, someone please wake me up!” he tweeted.

“#Najeebahandhersisters. These girls are strong,” he added in a follow up tweet.

The six sisters were abducted recently alongside their father.

The gunmen later released their father, asking him to go get N60m as ransom for the release of her daughters before Friday, January 12.

In a bid to raise money, Nigerians were urged to donate whatever they had into a bank account, but not enough money was gathered.

Unpleased by the development, the gunmen reportedly killed the eldest of the six sisters and dumped her body somewhere for her parents to bury.

Following the gruesome killing of Najeebah, the Nigeria Police Force said it was intensifying plans to rescue the victims while assuring Nigerians that plans were ongoing to prevent further kidnapping cases across the country.

No fewer than ten children have reportedly been injured in an explosion in Kidandan, Giwa Council Area of Kaduna State, North-West Nigeria.

The incident which occurred on Saturday afternoon is coming barely four days after an explosion rocked Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, that left five dead and over 70 others seriously injured.

The Kaduna State Police Command has confirmed the latest incident, noting that all the injured children had been taken to hospital for medical treatment.

The command’s spokesperson, Mansir Hassan, who confirmed the incident to TheCable, described the incident as unfortunate.

Hassan said, “We received the information through the DPO (divisional police officer). You know that area is the operational area where the security agencies are conducting a lot of operations in the bush.”

He regretted that those children picked an object and took it to their school and in the process of dismantling, it exploded.
“So, the young boys went to the bush and they saw an object and took it to the school.

“When they got to the school since they didn’t know what the object was, they decided to open it to see. So, in the process, it exploded and left about nine of them injured.”

The affected children are currently receiving treatment at a medical facility, the PPRO said.

He said the command’s EOD has visited the scene to “ascertain the situation and find out whether it was a bomb or what exploded.”

Some kidnappers have allegedly promised to wreak more havoc in Dura, an extension of Rayfield, Jos South Local Government Area, of Plateau State.

They made this known to one of their victims, who shared his ordeal with Peoples Gazette on Saturday.

The victim, who begged to remain anonymous, said he was whisked away on Monday around 7:30 p.m.

“Some small armed Fulani boys, four of them, came and kidnapped me. I just came back from work, and I was about to open my gate when I saw someone with an AK-47 pointing at me. They must have been in the incomplete building close to my house,” he said.

“They took me to an unknown destination in Riyom where they kept me until a ransom of five hundred thousand was paid.

He narrated how they trekked treacherous paths for several kilometres to where he was kept.

“We trekked from 7:30 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. the next day. You’ll think we were on the highway if you see how they navigated the bush. These people know everywhere,” he said.

Narrating how he was treated, he said, “They punched me severally on my face, and my eyes were swollen. I feel better now. I was released the next day, Tuesday at 10:30 p.m.”

When asked if the police were involved in his release, he said, “One of my ogas called the police, but you know, if you involve them, it could only get worse.”

According to him, the kidnappers promised to return to the community.

Speaking to a community leader in Dura, who also begged to remain anonymous, he said he wasn’t aware of the recent kidnapping but claimed he knows the victim.

According to him, the neighbourhood where the victim was kidnapped has a very weak security architecture.

“The security around where you say he (the victim) was kidnapped is very weak. We had an arrangement with them, but they frustrated our efforts, so we had to make alternative plans here at Dura new layout,” he said.

He blamed some of the leaders for being complacent.

“Some of their leaders there will collect money and not want to account for it. That’s how we had issues with the Mai Angwa (community leader), and they chased our Civil Defence guys from the area. Now we have to rely on local hunters for our security,” he said.

When asked if he was aware that kidnappers vow to return, he said, “Certainly” and cited an instance of the kidnapping of a woman and her child in Dura.

According to him, “They will always say they will return, especially when they know that your security is weak.

“The guns our security men have cannot match the AK-47 these people carry around,” he said.

Another community leader, Martins Obidah, said he was also unaware of the recent kidnapping, except for a church member’s relative who was kidnapped a few days ago behind the Court of Appeal in Jos.

According to Mr Obidah, the heightened level of insecurity in the state has been the reason why the community leadership has been stressing the need to take this issue seriously.

“This is why I had to remind residents of the community during our burnfire about paying their security levy. We have noticed improvements even though some people act like they don’t care.

A ransom of N30 million has been requested for the release of Barrister Cyril Adikwu’s wife and his two in-laws, who were abducted from the Army estate in Kurudu.
The Nation had reported how kidnappers invaded the estate on Thursday night at about 10 pm and took away his wife and two in-laws.

Adikwu, who had escaped when the kidnappers came to his residence in the estate, said he was in communication with the kidnappers and they had demanded a ransom of over 30 million naira within a time frame.

He said: “It all happened on Thursday night at about 10:00 pm when a vehicle containing those who were kidnapped drove into my compound, and then all of a sudden, the kidnappers followed the vehicle into my compound.

“I was upstairs and heard strange sounds, so I peeped through the burglary door upstairs and saw one of them who was kidnapped on the floor. I asked what was going on there, and she said, ‘I don’t know, these men are asking me to go down, then it occurred to me they were kidnappers.

“Then I started screaming ‘Kidnappers help” at the top of my voice, at this point, they started shooting at me upstairs; I was able to escape and then they started shooting guns in the air while they took the three of them away.

“There were about 8 of them, and they walked through the bush path over the hill to the other side, not up to 40 minutes later, they left; I was called to provide a ransom, I don’t want to mention the amount because already false information is everywhere in the media about the whole incident, but I can assure you it’s more than 30 million.

Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele faced a barrage of charges today as he pleaded not guilty before the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja.

Dressed in an ash-coloured pair of trousers and a dark jacket, Emefiele, flanked by his legal team and a few aides, confronted the 20-count charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charges include allegations of corrupt practices and forgery.

Initially facing six counts related to N1.2bn procurement allegations, the EFCC amended the charges with the court’s approval. Emefiele’s plea of not guilty sets the stage for what promises to be a high-stakes legal battle.

Trial judge Hamza Muazu swiftly adjourned the case to February 12 and 13, 2024, signalling the beginning of what is expected to be a closely-watched and protracted legal process.

In a pivotal legal development, the Supreme Court has officially upheld the election victory of Ogun State’s governor, Dapo Abiodun.

The appellants, Ladi Adebutu and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), sought the court’s intervention to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh elections in 99 polling units where elections were allegedly cancelled.

Following a split decision by the Appeal Court, Lagos Division, on November 24, 2023, affirming Abiodun’s re-election, the Supreme Court delivered a decisive majority judgment. Justice Joseph Ikyegh dismissed the appeal filed by the PDP and its governorship candidate, as pronounced in the lead judgment by Justice Tijani Abubakar.

This judicial seal not only solidifies Abiodun’s continued leadership but also marks a resounding rejection of the PDP’s plea, emphasizing the stability and legitimacy of the electoral process in Ogun State.