By Bavoriat Clara
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has charged troops of the Air Component, Operation WHIRL STROKE, to sustain the ongoing joint air-ground offensive against terrorists and bandits across the country.
Air Marshal Aneke gave the charge on April 6, 2026, during a special Easter luncheon with frontline personnel in Makurdi, Benue State. The event was aimed at boosting troop morale and reinforcing the momentum of ongoing military operations. He described Easter as a solemn period symbolising sacrifice, discipline, and spiritual renewal—values he said align closely with the ethos of military service.
Represented by the Chief of Medical Services, Air Vice Marshal Ikechukwu Ogbodo, the Chief of the Air Staff commended the gallantry, professionalism, and dedication of personnel of the Air Component and the Armed Forces of Nigeria. He noted that their efforts have continued to yield significant operational gains and inspire public confidence in the military’s ability to restore peace and security.
Air Marshal Aneke reaffirmed that the Nigerian Air Force, in collaboration with sister services and other security agencies, remains resolute and proactive in ongoing counter-terrorism operations.
He disclosed that the Service has intensified intelligence-driven air campaigns through sustained precision strikes, close air support, armed reconnaissance, and interdiction missions, which continue to disrupt terrorist logistics, dismantle command structures, and deny hostile elements freedom of movement within the theatre of operations.
He added that recent successes recorded in the joint operations area are a direct result of enhanced inter-agency synergy, troop professionalism, and deliberate investment in advanced combat capabilities, including attack helicopters, surveillance systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, and precision-guided munitions.
The Chief of the Air Staff further emphasised the importance of civil-military cooperation and troop welfare, describing them as critical enablers of morale and sustained operational effectiveness.
Earlier, the Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command, Air Vice Marshal Micheal Ekwueme, described the Easter luncheon as a strategic morale-boosting initiative that fosters unity and strengthens operational synergy within the Joint Operations Area.
In a separate remark, the Air Component Commander, Operation WHIRL STROKE, Wing Commander OO Evulobi, assured the Chief of the Air Staff that personnel remain fully committed to sustaining the current operational tempo and delivering decisive airpower effects in support of ground forces.
The event underscores the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to maintaining a highly motivated, professional, and mission-ready force in the ongoing fight against insecurity.
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