Abuja: The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has ramped up its air operations targeting terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other criminal activities in the North-West, with a focus on Sokoto State. This initiative aims to bolster ongoing joint security operations across the region.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the statement issued by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the Director of Public Relations and Information of NAF, highlighted the increased air presence as a strategic move to maintain pressure on hostile elements. The objective is to enhance aerial surveillance and maintain a rapid response capability within the Joint Operations Area.
The NAF spokesperson emphasized the importance of this strengthened deployment in addressing asymmetric threats. Terrorists and bandits often exploit challenging terrain and mobility to evade ground forces, making air-power a crucial tool in countering these threats. By leveraging air-power’s reach, speed, flexibility, and precision, the NAF aims to locate, disrupt, and d
egrade hostile elements, thereby denying them freedom of movement and creating opportunities for surface forces to consolidate gains.
Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, the Chief of the Air Staff, reiterated the NAF’s commitment to optimizing air-power to deliver decisive effects in support of joint operations. He stressed the need for timely intelligence, responsive air-power, and seamless integration with surface forces to address the evolving security environment.
The CAS outlined the NAF’s clear objective: to sustain pressure on criminal elements, deny them freedom of action, and create conditions for surface forces to dominate the operational environment. He emphasized that air-power would be employed intelligently and decisively in synergy with sister services and other security agencies, always prioritizing civilian safety.
The initiative aligns with the CAS’s command philosophy of developing a highly motivated, professional, and mission-ready force capable of delivering decisive air-power in support of nati
onal security objectives. It also underscores the NAF’s focus on intelligence-led operations, innovation, operational readiness, and joint-force integration.
The NAF remains committed to supporting national efforts to restore peace and stability across the North-West. The service pledges continued collaboration with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to protect lives and property, dismantle terrorist and criminal networks, and safeguard communities. The CAS also called on the public to support ongoing security operations by providing timely and credible information to the appropriate authorities.