The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has intensified its airpower campaign against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities across the North-West, with a strengthened air presence in Sokoto State to support ongoing joint security operations.
The move, according to the NAF, is aimed at sustaining pressure on hostile elements, enhancing aerial surveillance and improving the capacity for rapid response to emerging threats.
The Service said the strengthened air presence would also provide effective air support to ground forces operating within the Joint Operations Area.
The NAF noted that the initiative was particularly significant in tackling asymmetric threats, where terrorists and bandits exploit difficult terrain, mobility and concealment to evade ground forces.
It said the reach, speed, flexibility and precision of airpower would enable security forces to locate, disrupt and degrade hostile elements, deny them freedom of movement and action, and create greater opportunities for surface forces to consolidate gains on the ground.
The Service further stressed that sustained coordination between air and ground forces remained critical to confronting the evolving security challenges across the North-West.
Speaking on the development, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, said the NAF would continue to optimise the employment of airpower to deliver decisive effects in support of ongoing joint operations.
Aneke said the changing security environment required timely intelligence, responsive airpower and seamless integration with surface forces.
“Our objective is clear: to sustain the pressure on criminal elements, deny them freedom of action and create the conditions for our surface forces to dominate the operational environment,” the CAS stated.
He added that the NAF would continue to employ airpower intelligently, professionally and decisively in synergy with sister Services and other security agencies, while maintaining the highest regard for the safety of civilians.
The initiative, the NAF said, is consistent with the CAS’s Command Philosophy of enhancing and sustaining a highly motivated, professional and mission-ready force capable of delivering decisive airpower effects in synergy with surface forces towards achieving national security objectives.
The Service said it would also continue to prioritise intelligence-led operations, innovation, operational readiness and joint-force integration in its response to contemporary security threats.
The NAF reaffirmed its commitment to supporting national efforts to restore peace and stability across the North-West, promising to work closely with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to protect lives and property, disrupt terrorist and criminal networks and safeguard communities.
The Service urged members of the public to continue supporting ongoing security operations by providing timely and credible information to the appropriate authorities.
