Nigeria’s chief of air staff said ongoing counterinsurgency operations require speed, precision and sustained pressure on armed groups, pledging to intensify air campaigns across conflict zones.
Air Marshal Sunday Aneke made the remarks during a strategic meeting with Air Component Commanders at the Nigerian Air Force headquarters in Abuja, according to a statement.
“Every sortie, every mission, and every decision must move us closer to total security restoration,” Aneke said, adding that the air force would continue to project airpower in support of ground troops and joint operations.
He commended commanders and personnel for what he described as measurable gains in degrading insurgent capabilities and disrupting hostile networks under difficult combat conditions.
Aneke reaffirmed the air force’s commitment to what he called decisive, intelligence-driven operations across all theaters, saying recent achievements reflect his command philosophy of building a mission-ready force.
“Our personnel remain our greatest strength. Their resilience in the face of adversity proves that the Nigerian Air Force is prepared, focused, and battle-ready,” he said.
He cautioned, however, that the security environment remains fluid and directed commanders to intensify intelligence-led missions, strengthen interagency collaboration and make greater use of technology to counter evolving threats.
The air chief also emphasized standardized training, predictive maintenance and rapid logistics support as key to sustaining combat effectiveness.
Aneke said operational decisions are guided by the protection of civilians, national assets and territorial integrity, and assured Nigerians that the air force would maintain pressure on groups threatening national stability.
“The Nigerian Air Force stands as a shield over the nation,” he said. “We remain vigilant, aggressive against threats, and fully aligned with our constitutional duty to safeguard the country.”
The meeting included operational briefings and reviews by branch chiefs and senior officers aimed at coordinating future operations, the statement said.
