By Nkechi Eze
In a strategic move to foster peace and enhance public trust in Nigeria’s security framework, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), through the Air Component of Operation UDO KA, has intensified its non-kinetic operations across the South-East region. A key milestone in this effort was recorded in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State, where the Air Component Commander (ACC) of the Joint Task Force South-East led a high-level civil-military engagement focused on strengthening community relations and reassuring residents of the NAF’s peaceful mission.
The outreach, conducted in collaboration with the Enugu State Government, land component forces, paramilitary agencies, and local security outfits, brought together traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, and grassroots representatives for candid dialogue on security-related issues.
In a statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and Information for the NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the service disclosed that the engagement featured the deployment of two military helicopters and one civil helicopter from the International Helicopter Flying School. This transparent display of aerial assets was aimed at demystifying military activity in the region and demonstrating the NAF’s commitment to peace, not intimidation.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, hailed the initiative as a reflection of the Air Force’s evolving doctrine, which balances military strength with community trust-building. “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,” he stated.
The forum, held in Ogbete and Agamede communities, offered a platform for residents to raise concerns, particularly regarding recent helicopter flights that had caused public apprehension. NAF officers provided clarifications on the nature and purpose of these aerial activities, helping to calm anxieties and strengthen mutual understanding between the military and the local populace.
Among the key stakeholders who attended the event were the Anglican Bishop of Eha-Amufu Diocese, Right Reverend Daniel Nkemjika Olinya; the Senior Special Adviser to the Enugu State Government on Security, Honourable Vincent Onyeabor; and the Chairman of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, Barrister Obiora Obeagu. All three commended the NAF for its proactive and transparent approach, encouraging continued collaboration for long-term peace and stability in the region.
The outreach, anchored on the CAS’s command philosophy of “purposeful training and mission-oriented force development for enhanced national security,” is part of the NAF’s broader strategy to embed local voices into its security planning processes.
“True victory in any conflict lies not only in defeating the enemy but in winning the confidence of the people we serve,” Air Marshal Abubakar affirmed.
