Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke

By Chibuike Nwabuko

ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has graduated 459 Regiment personnel, comprising 10 officers and 449 airmen and airwomen, following the successful completion of specialised training at the Regiment Training Centre, Kaduna.
The graduation ceremony, held on Friday, September 4, 2026, is part of the Service’s efforts to strengthen its manpower and develop personnel capable of responding effectively to evolving national security challenges.
The NAF disclosed this in a statement posted on its official X handle on Saturday.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, represented by the Chief of Training, Headquarters NAF, Air Vice Marshal Ahmed Dari, stressed the importance of effective force protection to the successful projection of airpower and the safeguarding of critical Service and national assets.
Aneke reaffirmed the NAF’s commitment to deliberate training and mission-oriented force development aimed at producing agile, resilient and combat-ready personnel.
He noted that the enhanced capabilities acquired by the graduates would support the NAF’s ongoing counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations, while also strengthening the protection of critical Service and national assets.
According to him, the development represents another step towards building a more capable and responsive Air Force that is committed to safeguarding lives, supporting national security and contributing to a safer and more secure Nigeria.
The newly graduated personnel were charged to uphold discipline, courage, teamwork and vigilance as they return to their respective units to assume their operational responsibilities.
The Commandant of the Regiment Training Centre, Air Vice Marshal Isaac Subi, expressed confidence that the training would enhance the graduates’ contributions to operational effectiveness.
Subi also reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to maintaining high standards of professional military training and developing personnel equipped to meet the demands of contemporary security operations.
Precise Post recalls that the latest graduation further highlights the NAF’s emphasis on capacity building as a critical component of its broader efforts to enhance operational readiness and protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity and strategic assets.

By Our Reporter

ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reaffirmed its commitment to building a highly skilled and combat-ready force, as trainees of Special Forces Course 13/2026 underwent their final Physical Fitness Test at the Regiment Training Centre Annex (RTCA), Bauchi.

The exercise, conducted on May 30, 2026, marked a critical stage in the selection process for prospective Special Forces operators.

According to the NAF, the assessment was designed to subject trainees to rigorous physical and mental challenges aimed at identifying candidates with the endurance, resilience, discipline, and fighting spirit required for special operations.

The Air Force said the exercise reflects its determination to maintain an elite force capable of responding effectively to terrorism and other emerging security threats in increasingly complex operational environments.

The test forms part of a broader strategy to ensure that personnel deployed for counter-terrorism and internal security operations possess the highest levels of operational readiness.

Speaking during the exercise, the Commandant of RTCA Bauchi, Squadron Leader Edeama Lawrence Akpan, explained that only trainees who demonstrate exceptional physical fitness, determination, and operational preparedness would be allowed to continue on the course.

He noted that Special Forces personnel are routinely deployed on demanding missions under hostile and austere conditions, making strict training standards essential.

Akpan commended the trainees for displaying remarkable grit, perseverance, and mental toughness throughout the assessment, adding that the qualities exhibited were critical attributes expected of future Special Forces operators.

The exercise also aligns with the vision of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, who has consistently emphasized realistic and intensive training as the foundation of operational success.

The NAF said the programme is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen its operational capabilities and ensure its personnel remain prepared for evolving security challenges.

Reiterating the Air Force’s commitment to national security, Aneke stated that the country’s security environment requires personnel who are physically robust, mentally resilient, and operationally decisive.

He stressed that through realistic training and uncompromising standards, the NAF would continue to produce Special Forces operators capable of confronting threats and defending Nigeria’s sovereignty wherever duty demands.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has carried out precision air strikes in the Sambisa general area, destroying four gun trucks and several logistics assets belonging to terrorists.

The service disclosed on Thursday that the operation, conducted on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, also led to the neutralisation of scores of insurgents.

The Director of Public Relations and Information for the NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the successful operation was executed based on credible intelligence and sustained surveillance of terrorist activities in the area.

According to him, the strikes significantly weakened the operational capacity of the insurgents.

“The strikes disrupted the adversary’s operational mobility and reinforced the effectiveness of intelligence-driven airpower in support of ongoing security efforts,” Ejodame said.

The air strikes form part of ongoing military operations under Operation Hadin Kai, aimed at combating insurgency and restoring stability across Nigeria’s North-East region.

The operation also follows a recent reaffirmation by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, of the Air Force’s determination to maintain decisive air superiority in the theatre of operations.

According to Aneke, sustained air dominance remains crucial to consolidating gains made by security forces in the fight against terrorism.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Operations at the NAF Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal Precious Amadi, conducted an operational visit to the NAF Base in Maiduguri, Borno State, to assess the readiness of personnel and equipment.

During the visit, he reviewed the operational environment and received detailed briefings from the Air Component and the 105 Composite Group.

The briefings, according to the Air Force, highlighted the base’s preparedness and resilience to sustain high-tempo joint operations alongside other security agencies.

As part of the visit, engagements were also held with the Theatre Command Headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai to strengthen collaboration between air and ground forces.

The Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command, Air Vice Marshal MC Ekwueme, also visited the base during the period, a move the Air Force said helped boost the morale of personnel deployed in the theatre.

Speaking on the development, the Chief of the Air Staff reiterated the Air Force’s commitment to maintaining sustained aerial operations against insurgent groups.

According to him, coordinated air and ground operations remain vital in shaping the battlespace and restricting the movement of hostile elements.

“The NAF remains focused on maintaining persistent air presence, delivering precision effects, and supporting joint forces to consolidate hard-won gains toward lasting peace and stability,” Aneke said.