A civil society organisation, the Sunrise Youth Entrepreneur Initiative, has called for an urgent and transparent investigation into fresh allegations by retired Major General Abdul Khalifa Ali-Keffi, who recently disclosed that a 2021 counter-terrorism operation uncovered links between Boko Haram financiers and influential figures in government, the military, and the financial sector.

Operating under its advocacy name, Teamsunrise, the organisation described Ali-Keffi’s claims as extremely troubling and said the federal government must not ignore matters involving alleged protection of terror financing networks.

It stressed that national security cannot withstand any further erosion caused by sabotage, complicity, or political shielding of suspects.

Ali-Keffi, the former GOC 1 Division, had stated that Operation Service Wide (OSW)—a task force he led—worked with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to trace terrorism-funding channels in 2021.

The team reportedly arrested several high-profile individuals linked to suspicious transactions before briefing former President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the retired officer, the briefing triggered drastic pushback, including his detention for 64 days without charge and his eventual compulsory retirement.

He insisted that his removal was meant to derail the terrorism-financing investigation.

Teamsunrise said these revelations raise critical questions about accountability and the integrity of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism framework.

The group noted that the allegations, which mention links between arrested suspects and a former Army Chief, a former Attorney-General, and a former Central Bank Governor, cannot be dismissed without a thorough, independent investigation.

The CSO emphasised that Ali-Keffi himself clarified he was not accusing the named former officials of directly sponsoring terrorism, but simply relaying findings attributed to the NFIU that pointed to business relationships with suspects under probe.

“Whether these individuals were later cleared or not, Nigerians deserve transparency,” Teamsunrise said.

“Any attempt—direct or indirect—to shield terrorism-financing suspects should be treated as a threat to national security.”

The organisation further faulted what it described as inconsistency in handling security-related cases, arguing that alleged collaborators and financiers of violent groups often receive lenient treatment while others face severe penalties for lesser offences.

Teamsunrise urged President Bola Tinubu to reopen OSW’s findings, launch an independent inquiry, and ensure that anyone connected—whether through negligence, complicity, or interference—is held accountable under the law.

It also called on the judiciary to uphold due process and resist political interference, stressing that only a transparent legal system can restore public confidence in the fight against terrorism.

“National security must never be compromised. Government owes Nigerians clarity, accountability, and justice—especially on matters as grave as terrorism financing,” the organisation said. (TRIBUNE)