Nigeria’s chief of the air staff on Wednesday condemned what he described as plans by some individuals to violently overthrow the government, warning that anyone involved would face the full force of the law.
Air Marshal Sunday Aneke spoke in Abuja during a meeting with branch chiefs, commanding officers and unit commanders as part of events marking his first 100 days in office.
“I unequivocally condemn recent revelations that plans were made by certain individuals to subvert democracy and violently take over the government,” Aneke said. “Such actions are shameful, shocking and wholly reprehensible. Any perpetrator will face the full wrath of the law.”
His remarks follow reports that a small group of serving military officers allegedly attempted to orchestrate a coup to oust President Bola Tinubu. Defence Headquarters has confirmed that a plot was uncovered and said 16 officers are in custody.
Aneke reaffirmed the Nigerian Air Force’s loyalty to the constitution and the democratically elected government, urging commanders to maintain unity and discipline within the ranks.
“The Nigerian Air Force remains loyal to the constitution and the democratically elected government of the day,” he said. “Commanders are reminded of their responsibility to maintain unity and cohesion within the ranks, while checking all forms of indiscipline and unlawful activity.”
Addressing broader security concerns, Aneke linked Nigeria’s challenges to instability in the Sahel region, where military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have disrupted regional security cooperation.
He said the instability has enabled jihadist groups linked to the Islamic State and al-Qaida to expand operations, warning that violence could spill into coastal West African countries, including Benin and Nigeria.
Aneke also referenced Nigeria’s recent designation by the United States as a country of particular concern, saying it had drawn global attention to the country’s security challenges and underscored the need for decisive action.
Domestically, he cited modest improvements in some areas but acknowledged ongoing threats, including insurgency in the northeast, banditry and kidnapping in the northwest and north-central regions, and farmer-herder clashes.
He described as “alarming” the reported expansion of the Islamic State West Africa Province into Kwara state, calling for decisive measures to reverse the trend.
In the Niger Delta, Aneke said joint operations over the past three months had reduced pipeline breaches and increased crude oil production to about 2.2 million barrels per day, though criminal activity targeting oil infrastructure persists.
He added that security in the southeast has improved, with joint operations dismantling separatist groups and ending a five-year sit-at-home order, allowing economic and social activities to gradually resume.
With general elections about a year away, Aneke urged air force personnel to remain professional and politically neutral.
“Our role remains to support civil authorities and safeguard democratic processes without partisanship,” he said.
The two-day meeting included reviews of performance during Aneke’s first 100 days in office and briefings on areas such as unmanned aerial vehicle development and air power strategies for counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations. He pledged that the air force would remain mission-ready and committed to safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
