23rd Chief of Air Staff, AVM Sunday Aneke
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, has declared that terrorists, insurgents and armed bandits will find “no hiding place” anywhere in Nigeria, as the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) intensifies its nationwide counter-terrorism operations.
Aneke gave the assurance during an operational tour of the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA (OPFY), Sector II, at the 213 Forward Operating Base in Katsina State.
His remarks were captured in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame.
According to the Air Chief, NAF remains fully committed to neutralising all threats to the nation. “We will not rest until every threat to our sovereignty is neutralised. Wherever they hide—forests, valleys or remote settlements—our forces will find them and strike with precision. Our mission is clear: hunt them down and protect our people,” he said.
Aneke urged personnel to step up their operations in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to eradicate all security threats. He noted that the Federal Government’s recent investments in modern aircraft, upgraded weapon systems and intensive training place a significant responsibility on NAF to deliver tangible results.
He stressed that Nigeria’s shifting security landscape requires “precision, innovation and relentless pursuit of criminals,” and praised the troops for maintaining professionalism despite sustained operational pressure.
The CAS encouraged airmen to maintain their tempo, honour the sacrifices of fallen heroes and remain disciplined and focused. He reaffirmed that their welfare would remain central to his leadership, insisting that “a force that fights hard must also live well.” He also promised continued investment in modern capabilities, intelligence platforms and technology-driven missions.
“You represent the pride of our nation. Every flight must count, guided by actionable intelligence to support the overall campaign plan,” he added.
Earlier, the Air Officer Commanding the Special Operations Command, AVM Ahmed Idris, pledged the troops’ full commitment to executing the CAS’ strategic vision. Air Commodore C.E. Illoh, the Air Component Commander, also delivered a detailed operational briefing outlining recent gains and emerging strategies.
Aneke rounded off his visit with inspections of operational, logistics, engineering and welfare facilities, before engaging personnel at an interactive durbar where he urged them to renew their dedication to the mission.
The visit, according to NAF, underscores its determination to sustain intelligence-driven, precision-based operations aimed at protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
