The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, was in Maiduguri as part of maiden operational visit to the Operation Hadin Kai theatre Command, where he assured of collaboration with the state government in the Northeast and the civilian population to end the over a decade insurgency in the region.

Aneke, who made the assurance yesterday when he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Babagana Zulum at the Government House, Maiduguri, said, “The security situation in the Northeast is a complex one and requires coordinated efforts.”

He acknowledged the complex security situation in the Northeast and strategic importance of Bormo State to the security of Nigeria.

Aneke assured that the Nigerian Air Force is committed to collaborating with the government and civilian population to end the security challenge and commended the governor’s nonkinetic approach to counter-terrorism through the Borno model to complement military action.

Responding, Zulum called for a coordinated military offensive involving the Army, Navy and Air Force to target insurgent strongholds in the Lake Chad area, Mandara mountain and Sambisa forest.

Zulum identified the islands, known as the Tumbus, as a critical safe haven for Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters, stressing that a comprehensive operation there is essential for lasting security.

He asserted: “I want to bring to your kind notice that a thorough military operation that involves the Naval, Air Force and Army purposely intended to be rid the of Tumbus have never been conducted.”