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Tag: NAF

  • NAF airstrikes destroy terrorists’ structures in Mandara mountains

    NAF airstrikes destroy terrorists’ structures in Mandara mountains

     

    By Sumaila Ogbaje
    Abuja:   The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has sustained its counter-terrorism offensive with precision airstrikes that destroyed terrorists’ structures and logistic hubs in the Mandara Mountains area of Borno.

    This is contained in a statement by the NAF Director, Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Ejodame stated that the strikes, conducted on April 27 at Guduf, targeted a known terrorists’ enclave following credible intelligence and confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

    He said NAF air assets identified multiple structures used by insurgents for logistics and coordination before executing a coordinated Air Interdiction operation.

    He added that the targets were engaged with precision, leading to destruction of key infrastructure supporting the terrorists’ activities in the area.

    “The operation significantly degraded the operational capability of the terrorists and reinforced ongoing efforts to deny them freedom of action,” he said.

    Ejodame noted that the mission was carried out in strict compliance with rules of engagement, with due consideration for the protection of civilians and the environment.

    He reiterated NAF’s commitment to sustaining pressure on terrorists’ elements and supporting broader military operations to restore peace and security in the North-East. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

  • NAF obliterates ISWAP logistics base in Jilli —

    NAF obliterates ISWAP logistics base in Jilli —

     

    By Hamza Suleiman

    Maiduguri:   The Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) has neutralised scores of terrorists and destroyed their operational assets in Jilli, Gubio Local Government Area of Borno.

    Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, the Media Information Officer at the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Maiduguri.

     Uba said that the airstrike had successfully hit a major Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) logistics hub.

    The media information officer stated that the operation was conducted on Saturday, following a sustained Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission over the Bindul–Jilli axis.

    According to him, Bindul-Jilli is a major terrorist movement corridor and convergence point for insurgents and their collaborators.

    “On 11 April 2026, multiple reports were received of ISWAP gun trucks and motorcycles moving along the axis. Consequently, ISR coverage was intensified.

    “During the surveillance mission, a contingent of motorcycles was observed moving in the direction of Jilli, followed shortly by additional vehicles, all converging on the same location,” he said.

    Uba said that the movements were corroborated by credible human intelligence sources, confirming that the converging elements were terrorists, collaborators and logistics handlers.

    The media information officer said that after rigorous target validation, the Air Component executed a series of precision strikes on the enclave, achieving high accuracy.

    “Post-strike assessment confirmed that the target area was struck with high accuracy, destroying the identified terrorist logistics enclave.

    “Scores of terrorists were neutralised in the strike, with their vehicles and technicals destroyed, while surviving elements were observed fleeing in multiple directions,” he said.

    Uba added that intelligence indicated the neutralised elements were in the final stages of receiving logistics supplies for coordinated attacks on troop locations within the Gubio axis before the strike disrupted their plans.

    The media information officer recalled that the Bindul–Jilli corridor had been linked to previous attacks, including a January Improvised Explosive Device (IED) incident along the Gubio–Damasak road which claimed the lives of eight soldiers, as well as coordinated attacks in Ngamdu and Benisheik on April 9.

    He further disclosed that on April 12, troops arrested a suspected ISWAP logistics courier identified as “Turja Bulu” in Ngamdu.

    “Upon preliminary investigation, he confessed to taking part in the attack on the 29 Brigade location at Benisheik and was dispatched from Jilli to deliver food items to another group of terrorists hibernating within the Magumeri–Gubio general area,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said it conducted follow-up mop-up airstrikes on fleeing insurgents and regrouping elements within the Jilli axis to consolidate gains from the initial operation.

    In a statement, the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said that the action underscored the effectiveness of intelligence-driven joint operations.

    “The mission was conducted as part of a coordinated air-ground integration operation with the Nigerian Army, following an earlier successful engagement that effectively decimated terrorist positions in the area.

    “The follow-on strikes were aimed at fleeing remnants and regrouping cells seeking to exploit the difficult terrain,” Ejodame said.

    He added that the sustained strikes were part of ongoing efforts to deny terrorists freedom of movement, prevent attacks on security forces and protect civilian populations.

    Also, the Yobe Government further clarified reports alleging that residents of the Geidam council area were directly targeted in the airstrike.

    In a statement by the Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Gov. Mai Mala Buni, Brig.-Gen. Dahiru Abdulsalam (rtd), the government said the operation was conducted on a known Boko Haram stronghold in Jilli, Gubio council area of Borno.

    He said that some residents of Geidam, which borders the area, had visited the Jilli weekly market and were affected by the strike.

    “They have been evacuated to Geidam Specialist Hospital and are responding to treatment,” Abdulsalam said.

    He reiterated that Jilli remained an insurgent-controlled enclave with no legitimate civilian presence, describing it as a “no man’s land” used for logistics, coordination and staging of attacks.

    Abdulsalam also restated that the use of motorcycles remains prohibited across the North-east operational theatre due to their continued use by terrorist elements.

    He, however, assured residents of sustained operations to dismantle terrorist enclaves and restore lasting peace in the region. (NAN)

  • Untitled post 77969

     

    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)

  • NAF Confirms Airstrikes in Kwara, Engages Hostile Elements Following Community Attack

    NAF Confirms Airstrikes in Kwara, Engages Hostile Elements Following Community Attack

     

    By

    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.”

  • NAF at 61: AOC urges youths to take up career in Nigerian Air Force

    NAF at 61: AOC urges youths to take up career in Nigerian Air Force

     

    By

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has called on youths in South-East to take up career and join in advancing operational capabilities of Nigerian Air Force.

    The Air Officer Commanding (AOC), NAF Ground Training Command (GTC), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Ahmed Shinkafi, made the call during an Open Day, which is part of activities lined up to commemorate the 61st Anniversary of NAF in Enugu on Friday.

     

    Shinkafi, who was represented by the Chief of Staff of the GTC, AVM Anthony Martins, said that it had been observed that youths within the South-East “show low interest in joining NAF as well as other military and para-military platforms.”

    “You can make a distinguished career and great patriotism to the country as you serve our fatherland through NAF since there is continuous career progression and opportunity of educational advancement and trainings within and outside the country.

     

    “We are also interested in have female airwomen, combatants and officers as NAF is giving equal opportunities to both genders to prove themselves.

    “We want females to bring positive energy, ideas and innovation to help NAF combat current and future emerging threats to our nation and keep everybody safe and secured,” he said.

     

    He also urged eminent personalities that attended the event to sensitise their youths to join the air force and fill the quota of their various states within the South-East.

     

    According to him, NAF needed divers ideas and officers from various backgrounds and regions to sustain its greatness.

    Shinkafi, who is the Special Guest of Honour in the open day, said that NAF was currently one of the powerhouse in air operational and tactic combats in Africa and had participated in various successful peace keeping operations in Africa.

     

    “NAF’s operations today is griven by cutting-edge tecnological and innovative platforms, aircrafts, weapons and highly trained personnel to ensure accuracy, precision and success of all operations and campaigns,” he said.

    Speaking, the Sarkin Hausawa in Enugu State, Alhaji Abubakar Sambo, commended NAF for attaining 61 years and upholding the protection of the nation’s territory intergrity all these years.
    .

    Sambo, who is the leader of the Hausa community in Enugu State, noted that the open day had afforded civil populance the opportunity to interact, ask questions and get immediate feedback on NAF operations, regimentation and career prospects.

     

    A student, Master Ralph Uchechukwu, said that he was excited seeing an aircraft airlift and land smoothly as well as the routine engineering checks that is alway conducted before any aircraft goes into daily or routine operations.

    Uchechukwu, who is from Nike Grammar School, Abakpa, said that with the new orientation about NAF he gained, he would like to be a pilot serving in the NAF.

     

    Miss Nonye Onyeabor, a student of
    New Haven Secondary School, Emene, said that the career prospects in NAF “is promising to me and one that provide me and any other female opportunity to excel.”

    The event featured airing of documentaries about the history and operations of NAF; exhibition; tour of historical photo galleries and mini-museums; guided tour of some NAF platforms; interactive session and group photograph.

  • CAS commissions projects, inspects constructions to improve welfare of NAF personnel in Enugu

    CAS commissions projects, inspects constructions to improve welfare of NAF personnel in Enugu

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    The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, has commissioned some projects within Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Ground Training Command (GTC), Enugu to improve welfare of NAF personnel and their families.


    Abubakar inaugurated the projects during his Operational Visit and Commissioning of Projects within the GTC.

    The CAS commissioned the remodelled and refurnished Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) Mess in NAF Base, Abakpa as well as the remodelled and renovated gymnasium at GTC, Emene.


    The NAF Boss also inspected an ongoing construction of Helicopter Combat Training Group’s Hangar and construction of dual 2 by 30 transit accommodation for officers at the GTC.

    Abubakar also inspected Medical Reception Station and water treatment plant and other facilities within the Command’s NAF Base Abakpa in Enugu.

    The CAS, whose Command Philosophy is anchored on “Maintaining a Highly Motivated Force by Enhancing Welfare and Infrastructural Renewal”, took at time to diligently know more on the inaugurated and ongoing projects.


    Abubakar, who did not grant an interview to journalists, however, directed NAF engineers and project officers as well as contractors to redouble efforts and ensure quality and specification for every ongoing projects were maintained.

    In a welcome address, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Ground Training Command, AVM Ahmed Shinkafi, noted that since assumption office on Feb.17, 2025, the CAS had approved many welfare and operational projects and logistics for personnel.

    “The CAS approved immediate upgrade in our integrated water treatment facility and procurement of a water tanker to serve as a backup; all in an effort to ameliorate the perennial water scarcity in Enugu which is seriously affecting our personnel.


    “Our amiable boss also approved the upgrade of our Medical Reception Station in Abakpa to a Level 2 Hospital and procurement of a new ambulance; approved the procurement of a 52-seater CNG powered bus to mitigate our troops transportation challenge.


    “The CAS is also putting seriouus attention in developing a new world class and smart NAF Base in Gabon Village, Enugu. All of these happened within three months that I assumed office in the Command.

    “It is true that welfare is a morale boaster to personnel. Within the last two years, this Enabler (CAS) has tremendously improved the wellbeing of personnel and by extension motivation for better service delivery,” he said.


    According to the AOC, we appreciate the CAS for his passionate approvals and support towards improving the welfare of personnel and their families as well as NAF veterans in Enugu. Thank you, sir.

    Shinkafi noted that NAF personnel remained highly motivated with the provision of these welfare facilities and more to come for socialisation and social fitness activities.