By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has warned that Nigeria’s security environment remains fluid and increasingly complex, requiring sustained and intensified military pressure against insurgent and terrorist groups operating across the country.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, raised the concern during a strategic meeting with Air Component Commanders (ACCs) on Tuesday, 10 February 2026, as the Air Force reviewed ongoing operations and recalibrated its response to evolving threats nationwide.
According to a press release issued by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the CAS acknowledged that despite recent operational gains, hostile elements continue to adapt their tactics, exploit difficult terrain, and threaten both civilian populations and security forces.
Air Marshal Aneke said the meeting was convened to assess current missions, identify operational gaps, and align air strategies with emerging threats across all theatres of operation. He stressed that the persistence of asymmetric warfare, combined with the spread of terrorist and criminal networks, demands speed, precision, and intelligence-driven air operations.
He directed Air Component Commanders to intensify intelligence-led missions and deepen coordination with other security agencies, noting that isolated operations would be insufficient to address the scale and complexity of the challenges confronting the nation. He also emphasised the need to fully exploit modern surveillance and strike capabilities to deny hostile elements freedom of movement.
The CAS commended commanders and their personnel for operating under demanding combat conditions, often in austere and hostile environments.
He noted that their efforts have contributed to degrading insurgent capabilities and disrupting supply and communication networks, even as security threats remain persistent.
However, he cautioned that operational success must be sustained through continuous training, efficient logistics, and predictive maintenance of air assets, warning that lapses in these areas could undermine long-term effectiveness.
Air Marshal Aneke assured Nigerians that the protection of civilians and national assets remains central to all air operations, stressing that the Nigerian Air Force will maintain relentless momentum and will not cede ground to forces threatening national stability.
The meeting featured detailed operational briefings and interactive reviews involving Branch Chiefs and senior officers, aimed at developing a unified roadmap for sustained air operations in support of joint military efforts across the country.
