In a groundbreaking move to deepen public trust and consolidate peace in Nigeria’s South-East, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has launched a strategic non-kinetic intervention under Operation UDO KA, signaling a new phase in civil-military cooperation. The high-impact engagement spearheaded by the Air Component Commander (ACC) of the Joint Task Force South-East was held in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State, attracting traditional rulers, religious leaders, security agencies, and grassroots stakeholders.
According to a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the initiative was conducted in collaboration with the Enugu State Government, land component forces, paramilitary agencies, and local vigilante groups, underlining an integrated approach to security stabilization. As part of the outreach, two military helicopters and a civil chopper from the International Helicopter Flying School (IHFS) flew across the region in a bold show of transparency reassuring residents of the Air Force’s peaceful objectives.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, who has consistently championed non-kinetic strategies, emphasized the intent behind the outreach:
“This engagement reflects NAF’s growing commitment to non-kinetic strategies in conflict-prone areas. Building trust is as vital as any military operation. We are set out to protect, not to intimidate.”
The sessions, held in Ogbete and Agamede communities, opened a two-way dialogue between the military and the people, focusing particularly on concerns about increased helicopter flights. By directly addressing these misperceptions, the NAF helped douse rising tensions, ensuring that its operations are better understood—and embraced—by the communities.
Among those who commended the initiative were Right Reverend Daniel Nkemjika Olinya, Anglican Bishop of Eha-Amufu Diocese; Hon. Vincent Onyeabor, Senior Special Adviser to the Enugu State Government on Security; and Barrister Obiora Obeagu, Chairman of Isi-Uzo LGA. The leaders hailed the outreach as a timely confidence-building measure and called for its institutionalization across the region.
This community-focused strategy aligns with the CAS’s command philosophy of “purposeful training and mission-oriented force development for enhanced national security.” More than a public relations exercise, the engagement underscores a transformative shift in Nigeria’s security posture—one that puts people at the center of the mission.
Air Marshal Abubakar reinforced this vision, stating:
“True victory in any conflict lies not only in defeating the enemy but in winning the confidence of the people we serve.”
With this renewed emphasis on dialogue, visibility, and mutual understanding, the NAF is redefining how peace is secured not just from the skies, but in the hearts of the people.