, Air Vice Marshal Michael Ekwueme, has assured troops of enhanced and sustained air){kind=link}
The Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command (AOC TAC), Air Vice Marshal Michael Ekwueme, has assured troops of enhanced and sustained air support as the military intensifies operations against insurgents in the North East.
Air Vice Marshal Ekwueme gave the assurance on Friday, January 30, 2026, during an operational visit to the Theatre Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, at the Maimalari Military Cantonment, Maiduguri. He was received by the Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar.
Commending the troops for their resilience, discipline, selflessness and courage, the AOC described their efforts as pivotal to degrading insurgent capabilities across the theatre. He pledged the deployment of additional air platforms to overcome operational challenges and consolidate recent gains.
“I assure you of maximum support and the deployment of more air platforms to strengthen your operations. We are confident these efforts will fast-track the restoration of peace and normalcy in the North East,” Ekwueme said.
In his response, Major General Abubakar welcomed the visit, noting that timely and precise air support has remained a decisive factor in achieving mission objectives despite the increasing complexity of operations. He stressed that improved ground-to-air coordination, enhanced transition capabilities and sustained in-theatre training have significantly boosted joint operational effectiveness.
The visit featured operational briefings, exchange of souvenirs, signing of the visitors’ book, group photographs and a guided tour of the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai.
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