“Plane crash that killed former Army Chief was not accident” says Former General

Former GOC of 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, retired Major General Danjuma Ali-Keffi, has expressed grave concerns about the air crash that killed former Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru and 11 other senior military officers.

In an exclusive interview, Ali-Keffi claims that terror financiers are involved in the crash and urges President Bola Tinubu to investigate immediately.

Ali-Keffi, who questioned the official investigation, claims critical crash details were omitted.

He stressed that the full investigation report has not been released, increasing suspicion about the tragic incident.

The retired general credits Attahiru with developing Northern Nigeria’s anti-terrorism strategies.

Ali-Keffi says the late army chief exposed and neutralized terror financiers.

Ali-Keffi details the events leading up to the crash, questioning the abrupt changes in the scheduled trip, aircraft choice, and landing airport.

He disputes the official narrative by citing the aircraft’s descent in stormy weather, a delayed departure, and an ear-shattering explosion before the crash.

According to Ali-Keffi, “About 2100 hrs on Thursday 20 May 2021, I spoke on the phone with the Chief of Staff (COS) to the late COAS about their upcoming trip to Kaduna.

I discussed this with General Attahiru before. We concluded that the late COAS and entourage would arrive by flight at 1000 hrs the following day.

In order to make arrangements for the mosque where the COS would attend Jummu’at (Friday) prayers, I called the late COAS at 0630 hrs the following morning to confirm if their travel plan was as discussed the night before.

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

It should be noted that the late COAS visited Kaduna as part of his visit to Zaria for the Depot NA Passing Out Parade on Saturday, 22 May 2021.

“The CDS, HMOD, and presidency are informed before service chiefs leave Abuja.

Why was a meeting scheduled for about the same time the late COAS was to leave for Kaduna, and why was he not represented?

The COS informed me that they would leave the Flag House (official residence of the COAS) at about 1530 hrs (after the meeting and Jummu’ at prayers) for the airport due to the meeting.

They planned to arrive at the airport at 1600 hrs, board the plane at 1610–1615 hrs, and fly to Kaduna. At 1600 hrs, I was informed they had arrived at the Airport Presidential Wing. My convoy left the Stallion House (GOC residence) and arrived at the Air Force Base at 1615 hrs.

“The flight was delayed for over an hour and did not take off until 1730 hrs for reasons I don’t understand until today. I was informed that the aircraft assigned to transport the COAS and his entourage had issues and had to be changed, causing the delay.”

Ali-Keffi added, “Meanwhile, a meteorological alert warned of heavy rainfall and wind shear in Kaduna airspace. We saw the Kaduna cloud at the airport.

Indeed, the cloud was thick, indicating a massive storm. I questioned the flight. I told Air Commodores Iyamu and Ilo, who were with me to receive the COAS, my doubts.

I even suggested they notify Abuja of weather conditions to cancel the flight. I was informed that the aircraft was airborne at 1745 hrs. I wondered if the plane could land at the airport in such a heavy rainstorm.

Thus, I was not surprised when Air Commodore Ilo told me we had to go to the Civil (International Airport) because the NAF runway was too short to land the aircraft in the terrible weather. Due to heavy rainfall and shale, we drove slowly to the International Airport.

After arriving near the airport, the former GOC heard a thunderous sound, which I thought was thunder. I thought the plane was descending to land on the runway. When we turned the bend to enter the tarmac, I thought the plane had landed and was taxiing to the parking area.

I saw no planes on the runway. I frantically looked around and saw a fireball on the runway’s other side. The plane carrying General Attahiru! We left the cars, crossed the runway, and approached the burning plane. Firefighters extinguished the fire. We retreated for fear of cylinder explosions.

We found the bodies of the 10 plane passengers far from the wreckage. Apparently, their burning bodies were thrown from the plane before it crashed. I remember the aircraft being on a flat grassland.

There was no crater. This indicated a midair explosion. What caused the plane’s explosion? What does the Air Safety and Accident Investigation Bureau report say about the incident?

Ali-Keffi wondered, “Was the flight deliberately delayed to catch the rainstorm?” Did the plane explode midair due to sabotage? Did explosives cause the blast? Was a bomb planted in the plane or in a parcel a passenger carried?