Esther Oseyiomon
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has called for a whole-of-society approach to addressing insecurity in the South-East, saying lasting peace can only be achieved through stronger collaboration among government, security agencies, traditional institutions and local communities.
Aneke made the call on Thursday at the South-East Regional Security Summit 2026 held in Umuahia, Abia State, where stakeholders gathered to discuss strategies for strengthening security and regional stability. The summit was convened by the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, under the theme, “Collaborative Approaches to Strengthening Security and Regional Stability.”
Addressing participants, the Air Chief said the summit reflected a shared commitment to restoring peace and unlocking the region’s economic potential, describing the South-East as Nigeria’s historic commercial and industrial hub despite the security challenges confronting it.
He assured residents that the Nigerian Air Force, alongside other services of the Armed Forces and security agencies, would continue sustained operations against criminal elements threatening lives and livelihoods in the region.
According to him, ongoing joint operations, supported by intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, precision air strikes and close air support, have significantly disrupted the activities and movement of criminal groups while creating a safer environment for communities.
The CAS, however, stressed that military operations alone cannot guarantee enduring peace. “Bombs and bullets do not address the root causes of insecurity. While military operations are necessary to create a secure environment, true and enduring peace requires a whole-of-society approach,” he said.
He urged state governments, traditional rulers, youth organisations and community leaders to complement security efforts by engaging young people, addressing the drivers of violence and encouraging residents to provide timely and credible intelligence to security agencies.
Reaffirming the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to civil-military cooperation, Aneke said the Service would continue to strengthen community relations through medical outreaches and other support initiatives, expressing confidence that the summit would produce practical solutions capable of consolidating peace, boosting economic growth and sustaining stability across the South-East.