Tag: Air Force

THE appointment of AVM Sunday Aneke as the 23rd Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) marks a new chapter in the history of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

This appointment, as announced by President Bola Tinubu on Friday, is defined by intellectual depth, operational precision and renewed commitment to national security.

According to his citation released by the NAF on Friday, the new CAS was born on Feb. 20, 1972, in Makurdi, Benue, and hails from Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State.

He began his education at Army Children School, New Cantonment ‘A’, Kaduna (1976–1982) and later attended Government College, Kaduna (1982–1987). His early training laid the foundation for a disciplined and purpose-driven life that would later define his military career.

Aneke was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) as a member of the 40th Regular Combatant Course and was commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force as a Pilot Officer on Sept. 10, 1993.

An accomplished scholar, the new Air Chief holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from the University of Calabar, and two Master’s degrees — one in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and another in Political Economy and Development Studies from the University of Abuja.

He also holds a professional certificate in Aviation Safety Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida, USA, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Aneke attended several military courses, including the Junior and Senior Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, and the United States Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, where he obtained a Master’s in Strategic Studies.

His wide-ranging appointments include Director of Policy, Director of Safety, Deputy Director of Operations at NAF Headquarters, Command Operations Officer at Tactical Air Command, and Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy.

Until his appointment as CAS, he served as Air Officer Commanding, Mobility Command, Yenagoa, where he strengthened air mobility operations, enhanced joint force integration, and improved NAF’s strategic responsiveness in multi-domain operations.

An accomplished pilot with over 4,359 flying hours, AVM Aneke is type-rated on several aircraft including the Air Beetle 18, Dornier 228, Citation 500, Falcon 900, Gulfstream V, Gulfstream 550, and Hawker 4000.

His operational experience includes participation in Operation Restore Hope in the Niger Delta and United Nations peacekeeping operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC), where he served as Chief of Air Operations in the Kindu Region.

He has contributed significantly to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations that have improved the Nigerian Air Force’s counter-insurgency capabilities across multiple fronts.

Aneke is decorated with numerous medals and honours including GSS, DSS, GSM, FCM, Psc, MSc, MIAD, MPEDS and USAFWC. He is widely regarded as a refined officer and visionary leader known for his calm disposition, intellectual depth and strategic foresight.

As he assumes command as the 23rd Chief of the Air Staff, AVM Aneke is expected to bring his vast operational experience and academic grounding to bear in enhancing airpower projection, strengthening intelligence-led operations and driving innovation in defence technology and capacity development.

Aneke is married to Mrs Ngozi Enderline Aneke and they are blessed with three sons — Chukwuebuka Kelvin, Ifeanyichukwu Brian and Uchechukwu Jason.

He is known for his humility, professionalism and devotion to service, qualities that align with the Nigerian Air Force’s core values of discipline, courage and excellence. (NAN)

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The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has officially confirmed the deployment of fighter jets for coordinated airstrikes in the areas surrounding the recently attacked community of Oke-Ode in Kwara State, validating earlier reports of a significant military response.

PRNigeria had reported that the missions were a direct strategic response aimed at sustaining pressure on hostile elements operating in the region after attacks on local Vigilantes.

In an official statement released on Monday and signed by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information, the NAF detailed that the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma (OPFY) Sector 3 conducted “multiple coordinated missions” on September 28, 2025. The operations targeted Kakihun, Oke-Ode, Babanla, and surrounding vicinities.

The missions included both reconnaissance and close air support operations designed to deter threats. The statement confirmed that “hostile elements sighted east of Babanla were decisively engaged,” marking a direct military action against the assailants responsible for the recent violence.

This official confirmation aligns with the initial report from PRNigeria, which indicated that a NAF jet was scrambled to provide Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) following the devastating attack on Oke-Ode that left scores of villagers and vigilantes dead.

“The NAF assures Nigerians of its unwavering resolve to defend the nation’s territorial integrity and safeguard communities against threats,” the statement read, adding that all operations were “completed successfully.”

The military’s update reinforces its strategy of using air power to support ground troops. The statement noted that “concurrent surveillance flights also covered key settlements and military positions, gathering critical intelligence to support ground forces.”

These actions, the NAF said, “reaffirm NAF’s commitment to protecting troops and civilians, maintaining air superiority, and sustaining pressure on hostile actors.”

The attack on Oke-Ode had sent shockwaves through Kwara State, highlighting the vulnerability of rural communities and raising questions about security preparedness. This official NAF communication serves to publicly demonstrate a decisive and ongoing military effort to restore order in the region.

The statement concluded by encouraging citizens “to remain confident, vigilant, and supportive of the Armed Forces as decisive actions continue to restore lasting peace and security across the country.”