NAF Vows to Deny Extremists, Hostile Elements Freedom to Threaten Vulnerable Communities in North-West

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has pledged to prevent terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, extremists, and hostile forces from endangering vulnerable regions within the North-West. This commitment follows the Air Force's recent deployment of air assets under Joint Task Force North-East's Operation Hadin Kai, where precision-guided munitions were employed against terrorist strongholds in Monguno and Biu Local Government Areas of Borno State, resulting in the deaths of over 26 militants.

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, emphasized the NAF's dedication to leveraging intelligence, responsive air power, and seamless integration with ground forces to maintain operational readiness and ensure the security of civilian populations. He stressed that the evolving security landscape necessitates a multifaceted approach, where air power is deployed intelligently, professionally, and decisively in collaboration with other security agencies and surface forces.

The Air Force's pledge to bolster its presence in Sokoto State and maintain a vigilant approach to emerging threats aligns with the overall strategy of sustaining pressure on criminal elements, denying them freedom of action, and creating conducive conditions for ground forces to assert dominance in the operational environment. Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the Director of Public Relations and Information for the Nigerian Air Force, highlighted that the initiative is firmly grounded in the Air Force's Command Philosophy, which prioritizes a highly trained, professional, and mission-driven force capable of delivering decisive air power effects in tandem with surface forces to achieve national security goals.

The statement further underlined the NAF's unwavering commitment to intelligence-led operations, innovation, operational readiness, and joint-force integration as fundamental elements of modern air warfare. By employing the full spectrum of air power, the NAF aims to locate, disrupt, and degrade hostile elements, impede their movement, and create more advantageous circumstances for ground forces to consolidate their achievements on the ground.

The Air Force remains resolute in its support for national efforts to restore peace and stability in the North-West, working closely with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to protect lives, property, and communities, while contributing to a safer environment for law-abiding citizens. The NAF also urged the public to assist ongoing security operations by providing accurate and timely information to the relevant authorities.