In a dramatic development, the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Borno State, northeastern Nigeria, has today, Oct. 1, announced the dismissal of its founding leader, Lawan Jafar, following allegations of corruption and high-handedness. 

The announcement was made during a press conference led by Bashir Abbas, the former commander of Sector 2 of the CJTF and current Auditor-General of the group.

“The leadership of CJTF Borno State, after a series of meetings and deliberations, has unanimously decided to suspend Jafar, who is alleged to have misappropriated 13 Hilux vehicles meant for operational purposes,” Abbas stated during the press conference. 

“These vehicles were provided by the Borno State Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).”

Meanwhile, the group had also reinstated some four officials of the group who were earlier suspended over alleged lapses bordering on accountability lapses.

Abbas said “By Article 6 Rule 2 (vi) of the CJTF constitution, the group has also decided to reinstate several previously suspended members, including Babakura Mustapha, Abba Aji Kalli, Abba Tijani Sadiq, and Bar. Jibrin Tela Gunda. This decision follows a directive from the Borno state Government issued in November 2022.”

Furthermore, the group said according to Article 6 Rule 1 of the CJTF constitution, it has appointed Baba Shebu Abdulganiyu, the Commander of Sector 4 CJTF, as the acting President of the organization. 

“Abdulganiyu will lead the organization until a substantive leader is appointed,” Abbas announced.

In response to these developments, Ba’Lawan Jafar denied the allegations in a phone interview with HumAngle. 

“I am still the leader of CJTF in Borno state and five disgruntled excos out of 27 commanders cannot claim that they have the support of over 27,000 members to remove me from office,” Jafar said.

On the alleged diversion of operational vehicles, Jafar said, “I was not aware of such allegation, even though the said vehicles were the ones the government auctioned to our members which I also bought to sell as scraps or renovated to sell and make profits.”

Despite his dismissal, Jafar maintains that he remains the leader of the CJTF and will continue to function in this role. The crisis within the CJTF continues to unfold, with the future of the organization hanging in the balance.

Lawan has been celebrated as the brain behind the idea that later became CJTF when he braved up to physically confront an armed Boko Haram gunner in his neighbourhood.