NAF War College Conducts Frontline Security Assessment In North-West
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
Participants of Air War Course 12/2026 at the Nigerian Air Force War College Nigeria (AFWCN) have concluded a strategic National Study Tour across Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara states.
The Service on Wednesday described the study tour as part of efforts to deepen operational understanding of evolving security threats and strengthen counter-insurgency operations in the North-West.
The tour, themed “State Resources and Air Power: National Development in North-West Nigeria in Perspective,” exposed participants to frontline security realities through engagements with local communities, traditional rulers, security agencies, state authorities, and operators of critical infrastructure.
The exercise reflects the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment under the leadership of the Chief of the Air Staff, Sunday Kelvin Aneke, to advancing intelligence-driven and community-focused security operations.
Speaking during the engagements, the Commandant of AFWCN and Team Leader, GA Mbaka, said participants were divided into three teams deployed to Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara states to ensure wider operational coverage and comprehensive situational assessment.
He explained that the study tour was designed to provide real-time operational insights from frontline theatres while evaluating how air power, state resources, and inter-agency collaboration can be effectively integrated to combat terrorism, banditry, and other asymmetric threats.
During the exercise, participants interacted with military formations, sister security agencies, traditional institutions, and state governments, gaining firsthand insight into ongoing counter-banditry and counter-terrorism operations. The engagements also highlighted the growing role of air power in intelligence gathering, surveillance, rapid response missions, and the protection of critical national assets.
The tour further reinforced the Nigerian Air Force’s strategy of combining kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to deny criminal groups operational freedom while strengthening public confidence and civil cooperation. Participants also examined the socio-economic and historical drivers of insecurity, underscoring the importance of community partnerships and civil-military collaboration in achieving lasting peace.
Host state governments described the initiative as timely and operationally relevant, pledging continued support for efforts aimed at restoring peace and enhancing national security.
The National Study Tour remains a key component of the Air War Course, designed to equip future military commanders with the strategic insight, operational readiness, and adaptability required to tackle emerging security challenges and safeguard Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
