Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, has said any personnel of Nigeria’s Armed Forces found guilty of attempting to overthrow a democratic government will face the full wrath of the law.
Aneke said this yesterday while addressing Air Officers Commanding and Unit Commanders during a strategic meeting at the NAF Headquarters in Abuja, marking his first 100 days in office.
The CAS described recent revelations of an alleged coup plot against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration as “shameful, shocking, and reprehensible”.
He stressed that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) remained firmly loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
“I unequivocally condemn recent revelations that certain individuals planned to subvert democracy and violently take over the government. Such actions are shameful, shocking and wholly reprehensible. All perpetrators will face the full wrath of the law,” Aneke said.
The CAS reminded commanders of their responsibilities to maintain unity, cohesion and discipline within the ranks, particularly as the country approaches another election cycle.
“Our role remains to support civil authorities and safeguard democratic processes without partisanship,” he said.
NAN reports that more than 40 military personnel and civilians were arrested in connection with last October alleged coup plot, while families of some of the suspects have called for leniency and a fair trial.
Reflecting on his first 100 days in office, Aneke said he had undertaken operational visits across commands and units to assess their processes and interact with personnel.
The CAS noted that the global security environment was becoming increasingly complex, with renewed great power competition, shifting alliances and evolving security dynamics in the Sahel.
Aneke expressed concern over instability in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, warning that the expansion of jihadist groups linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda posed threats to coastal West African states, including Nigeria.
The CAS described the reported expansion of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) activities into Kwara State as an alarming development that must be decisively reversed.
Assessing the domestic front, Aneke acknowledged modest improvements in security, including reduced pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta and improved stability in the Southeast, where joint operations have curtailed separatist violence and weakened the sit-at-home order.
The Air Chief said joint security operations in the Niger Delta had helped to boost crude oil production to about 2.2 million barrels per day, though criminal exploitation of oil facilities remained a challenge.
He urged commanders to ensure professionalism and political neutrality as campaigns ahead of the 2027 general election gather momentum.
“As we deliberate here, I expect frank and solution-oriented discussions that will translate into practical decisions and measurable improvements across the Service,” Aneke said.
The CAS expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for his leadership and pledged that the Nigerian Air Force would continue to deliver decisive air power in synergy with surface forces to safeguard Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
“We will not disappoint Nigerians. It is our sacred duty to safeguard the national security objectives of our country,” he added.
