Meet Colonel Gerhard Kahtz, a German officer, was indeed appointed as the first Chief of the Air Staff for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in 1963. Following Nigeria’s independence, Kahtz was instrumental in establishing the foundation for the NAF by organizing its initial structure, training systems, and operational framework. His leadership marked a significant milestone in developing Nigeria’s aerial defense capabilities, as he helped lay down the NAF’s foundational strategies and trained its first officers. This period under Kahtz’s guidance played a crucial role in shaping the early years of the Nigerian Air Force.
Colonel Gerhard Kahtz’s legacy in Nigeria is defined by his pivotal role in establishing the Nigerian Air Force, transforming it from concept to an operational branch of the military with a clear structure, training protocols, and strategic framework. Tasked with building Nigeria’s aerial defense capability shortly after independence, Kahtz set the foundation for an air force that could protect the country’s sovereignty and support its military operations. His focus on training, discipline, and operational readiness created a legacy of professionalism that inspired generations of Nigerian air personnel.
Replicating this success in present times would involve re-emphasizing Kahtz’s principles of structured training, disciplined leadership, and strategic foresight. By investing in modernized training facilities, collaborating with experienced international advisors, and fostering a culture of innovation, Nigeria could ensure that its air force remains prepared to meet contemporary security challenges and contributes effectively to regional stability.
2. Colonel Wolfgang Thimmig (1965–1966) – German
The second Commander of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) was Colonel W Timming. He took over from Colonel Kahtz on 23 November, 1965. Born on 4 October, 1912, Colonel Timming, like his predecessor, was also a veteran of the Second World War. He came to Nigeria as part of the GAF Assistance Group (GAFAG) and helped to lay the foundation of the NAF under Colonel Kahtz. He continued where Kahtz stopped, until 18 January 1966 when the GAFAG withdrew from Nigeria. Although, he headed the NAF for barely 3 months, as part of the GAFAG, his role in the formation and nurturing of the NAF is indelible.
3. Brigadier George T. Kurubo (1966–1967)
George Tamunoiyowuna Kurubo (27 July 1934 – 2000) was Nigerian Air Force’s Chief of the Air Staff from 1966 to 1967. Brigadier George T Kurubo was the third Commander of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the first indigenous to hold the post. He was married, had four children, visited the Government School in Bonny.
From 1948 to 1953, Kurubo attended Government College in Umuahia, then Regular Officers’ Training School in Accra in 1953, then Officer Cadets Training School, Eaton Hall, Cheshire in 1954. From 1954 to 1955, he attended Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, then the Young Air Infantry Officers’ School in 1956, then Senior Air Infantry Officers’ School in 1961, and finally Command and Staff College, Quetta, Pakistan in 1964.
Kurubo was promoted second lieutenant and then platoon commander in 1956. Between 1957 and 1965, her served in various command positions. In 1964, he moved from Lt-Col in the Army to the newly formed Nigerian Air Force in 1964. In January 1966, he became the first indigenous Air Force Chief.
An Easterner, he did not go with the Igbo-led secession because he was from Rivers State which was carved out of the Eastern Region at the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War. Serving as the Eastern commander of logistics, Kurubo defected from Biafra to the Federal Government.
From January–July 1966, Kurubo served as a member of the Supreme Military Council, and as a member of the Federal Executive Council.
On 12 August 1967, he was appointed Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Soviet Union, where he stayed until 1973. In 1970, he was promoted to Brigadier General.
From December 28, 1974 until 1975, Kurubo served as Nigeria’s ambassador to Iran,[1] also accredited to Ankara.
On August 19, 1975, Kurubo retired from the military.
In 1977, he served as chairman of the Bonny Local Government Area’s Management Committee. Then, from 1977 to 1978, he was a member of the Constituent Assembly of the Second Nigerian Republic.
4. Colonel Shittu A. Alao (1967–1969)
Shittu Alao (born 1937 – 15 October 1969) was Nigerian Air Force’s Chief of the Air Staff from 1967 to 1969. Colonel Shittu was the fourth Commander of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the second indigenous officer to hold the post.
Death
He died on October 15, 1969, in an air crash at Uzebba, about 50 miles northwest of Benin. He was aged 32 and he was alone in the plane. Two days later, in Lagos, he was buried with full military honours.
Emmanuel E Ikwue was announced as his replacement on December 18, 1969.
5. Brigadier Emmanuel E. Ikwue (1969–1975)
Brigadier Emmanuel Ebije Ikwue was born on 6th June 1940 in Otukpo, Benue State. He attended the Methodist Central School Otukpo after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Military School from 1954 to 1958. He enlisted into the Nigerian Army and was sent for training as a member of Course 11, Regular Officers Special Training School Teshie, Accra, Ghana (1958 – 1959) (now Ghana Military Academy).
Thereafter he attended the Mons Officer Cadet School, Aldershot England and Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst (1959).
He was commissioned in 1961 and posted to 1st Battalion Enugu. In 1962 he served in a peacekeeping operation in the Congo under the auspices of the United Nations. In 1963, he was appointed Staff Captain (A) to Late Brigadier Maimalari, the then Commander of 2 Brigade NA. It was while serving in this capacity that he was seconded to the NAF. On secondment to the NAF, Brigadier Ikwue underwent an air force indoctrination and orientation training in Germany between 1963 and 1964.
On return from Germany, he was appointed as Senior Air Officer Administration at HQ NAF, Lagos in 1965 with a German as his adviser. It was in this capacity that he established the Service numbering for NAF officers. In 1965, Brigadier Ikwue was appointed Nigeria’s Military Attaché to Germany by Late Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa. In Germany, he was responsible for all military matters in all the Nigerian Embassies in Eu155 rope. In 1968, he was appointed the Doyen, head of Military Attaché Referat (Corps) in Germany. Thus he became the first African and first non-NATO General to head the Corp which had Military Attachés from 35 countries. In 1969, Brigadier Ikwue was recalled and appointed the fifth commander of the NAF and member of the Supreme Military and Federal Executive Councils. He was the first officer to be officially designated as the Chief of the Air Staff. He held this appointment until his retirement in 1975.
Reflecting on his achievements while in office, Brigadier Ikwue stated that he ensured that all NAF training was conducted abroad in order to consolidate the initial efforts of the Germans. He also stated that he emphasised excellence in the training of NAF aircrew, thus NAF pilots were trained mainly in Russia and the United States of America. The NAF C-130 aircraft were negotiated for and ordered during his administration. Training remained his utmost priority throughout his tenure.
In recognition of these services to the nation he was awarded the Independence Medal, the Congo Medal and the Long Service and Good Conduct Medals. The NAF on its part, recognised his services with the award of the Distinguished Service Medal and Distinguished Flying Star. Brigadier Ikwue on retirement went into quarrying. He was also at one time the Chairman, Nigerian Bank for Commerce and Industry. He is at present, the Chairman, Board of Directors, Ashaka Cement Plc. He also acquired a Bachelor’s degree in theology on retirement.
6. Air Vice Marshal John Nmadu Yisa-Doko (1975–1980)
Air Vice Marshal John Nmadu Yisa-Doko played a significant role in evaluating the French-made Mirage fighter jet in 1970, after Nigeria’s attempts to acquire F-5 Tigers failed. As a pilot and the first Nigerian Air Force’s Chief of the Air Staff, serving from 1975 to 1980, Yisa-Doko was instrumental in assessing the Mirage’s capabilities and potential.
Born on February 13, 1942, in Doko, Niger State, Nigeria, Yisa-Doko joined the Nigerian Air Force as a cadet in 1962 and was among the first batch of pilots recruited to serve in the newly formed Air Force. He underwent pilot training in Ethiopia from 1962 to 1964 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1964.
During his tenure as Chief of the Air Staff, Yisa-Doko initiated several significant developments, including the establishment of primary schools in all major NAF formations, training schools for NAF primary trade specialties, and operational bases at Makurdi and Kainji. He also founded the NAF Regiment, NAF Junior Command and Staff School, and the Air Faculty at the Command and Staff College, Jaji.
Yisa-Doko’s achievements and contributions to the Nigerian Air Force are a testament to his dedication and leadership. He was honored with several awards, including the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) and the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR).
7. Air Vice Marshal Abdullahi Dominic Bello (1980–1983)
Air Vice-Marshal Abdullahi Dominic Bello took over the leadership of the NAF as the seventh Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) on 15 of April 1980. He was enlisted into the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) as an officer cadet in October 1963.
He was the first NAF Officer to attend the prestigious Air War College in the United States. He was born in Jimeta, Yola on 14 December, 1942. During his tenure as the CAS, he introduced the Benevolent Welfare Fund to alleviate the sufferings of bereaved families of deceased NAF personnel.
He also introduced the Aircrew Insurance Programme and established the NAF Military School, Jos and Air Force Secondary School, Ikeja, all in 1981.
8. Air Marshal Ibrahim Mahmud Alfa (1984–1990)
Ibrahim Mahmud Alfa (14 August 1946 – 16 March 2000) was an air marshal in the Nigerian Air Force. He previously served as Military administrator of Kaduna State and Chief of Air Staff for the Nigerian Air Force. He died on 16 March 2000.
Born in Garkida, Adamawa State, he started his educational career at the Central Primary School, Jimeta, Yola, in 1948 and went on to complete his primary and secondary school education in 1960 at Yola Middle School, later known as the Provincial Secondary School. Soon after his graduation, he enrolled for his Higher School Certificate (HSC) course in Barewa College, Zaria, which he completed in 1962.
Ibrahim Alfa was one of the pioneering sets of officer cadets who enlisted into the Nigeria Air force in June 1963. On 28 August 1963, he was flown, along with a team of 83 other Nigerians, to Uetersen, Germany, for Basic and Advance Military Training. He was in Germany until 21 June 1966, when he was recalled home with the team and commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force with the rank of second lieutenant. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he commanded the NAF Detachment in Benin City.
In 1967, Alfa attended the Conversion Course on MIG 15 and 17 in USSR. He was promoted to the rank of captain in 1969. In 1970 he was appointed the Commanding Officer, Nigerian Air force (NAF) Flying Training Wing, Kano.
In 1972 he was promoted to the rank of Major. From December 1972 to August 1973, Ibrahim Alfa enrolled for the T-38 Instructor Pilot course at Lockheed and Randolph Air Force Base, in the United States. In 1973 he was appointed officer Commanding 64 Fighter Squadron, Kano, Nigeria.
In November 1974 he attended a conversion course on MiG 21 followed by a back seat check in USSR. In 1975 he was promoted Wing Commander. He was appointed a member of the Supreme Military Council between 1976 and 1978 as one of its younger members with the rank of Wing Commander. During this period, he attended the Advanced Staff College, l, England. In 1978 Alfa was promoted to the rank of Group-Captain and he was also appointed as the Military Administrator of Kaduna State by the then Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo, where he also took charge as Commander, Ground Training Group in Kaduna.
In June 1980, he enrolled at the Air War College in Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, USA. On his return from the Air War College in 1981, Ibrahim Alfa was appointed the Air Officer Operations (AOO), with the rank of Air Commodore. In 1982, he attended the International Defence Management Course, Lagos, Nigeria. In 1983 Alfa was promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal.
On 1 January 1984, he was appointed the eighth Chief of Air Staff by General Muhammadu Buhari’s regime. After General Ibrahim Babangida took power in August 1985, he retained Alfa as Chief of Air Staff. On 1 October 1987, Ibrahim Mahmud Alfa was promoted to the rank of Air Marshal, the first Nigerian Air force officer ever to attain the rank.
Alfa retired from the Nigerian air force as the Chief of Air Staff in 1990.
Ibrahim Mahmud Alfa also served as a member of the supreme military council from 1984 to 1985, the Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC) 1985-90 as well as the chairman of the National Transition Committee in 1990.
In July 1978, Alfa was appointed military Administrator (position now called Governor) of Kaduna State, a position he held until October 1979.
Alfa was appointed the eighth Chief of Air Staff, Nigerian Air Force, under General Muhammadu Buhari’s regime on 1 January 1984. He was retained as Chief of Air Staff during General Ibrahim Babangida’s administration until 1990.
Ibrahim Alfa was married to Laraba, they had three sons and one daughter together.
Air Marshal Alfa (Rtd.) received several awards and medals. In alphabetical order they include:
– Defence Service Medal (DSM) Defence Service Medal (Nigeria)
– Distinguished Flying Star (DFS)
– Distinguished Service Medals (DSM)
– General Service Medal (GSM) General Service Medal (Nigeria)
– Member of the Federal Republic (MFR)
– National Service Medal (NSM) National Service Medal (Nigeria)
9. Air Vice Marshal Nuraini Yussuff (1990–1992)
Air Marshal Nuraini Oladimeji Omotosho Yussuff was born in Lagos on 10 June, 1942. He began his military career in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on 7 August 1963 as an officer Cadet. Subsequently, he was sent to Germany where he undertook military training with the German Air Force (GAF). He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on 7 November, 1966. Air Marshal Yussuff was appointed as the ninth Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) on 29 December, 1989. He retired from military service in January 1992.
10. Air Marshal Akin Dada (1992)
Air Marshal Akin Dada was born in Lagos on 7 June 1943. He hails from Ipoti-Ekiti in Ijero Local Government of Ekiti State. He was enlisted into the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on 1 July, 1964. He then proceeded to India where he trained on various aircraft types. On his return, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on 29 October, 1966. Air Marshal Akin Dada held various senior and command positions in the NAF before his appointment as the CAS on 31 January, 1992. He retired from the military service in 1993.
The Eleventh Chief of the Air Staff of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Vice Marshal Femi John Femi, was born on 30 December 1945 in Egbeda-Kabba, Kogi State. He enlisted into the NAF as an officer cadet on 1 July, 1965. He proceeded to Germany for his pilot training after his basic military training. He qualified as an helicopter pilot in March, 1967 and was commissioned Second Lieutenant on his return to Nigeria on 1 June 1967. He was appointed Chief of Air Staff (CAS) of the NAF on 17 September, 1993. He retired from military service in 1996.
12. Air Marshal Nsikak-Abasi Eduok (1996–1999)
The twelfth Chief of the air Staff (CAS) of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) was Air Marshal Nsikak-Abasi Essien Eduok. He was born on 11 July, 1947 at Mbak in Akwa Ibom State. He enlisted into the NAF as a potential pilot on 1 August 1968. Air Marshal Eduok had his initial military training at the Nigerian Defence Academy after which he went for primary flying training in 1970. He was appointed as the CAS on 27 August, 1993, but the appointment was reversed a week later by the then military government. He was redeployed as Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command (AOC TAC) and also appointed a member of the Provisional Ruling Council (PRC). On 20 March, 1995, he was appointed a member of the Federal Executive Council as Honourable Minister for Aviation. He was in this position till he was finally reappointment as the CAS on 30 March, 1996.
13. Air Marshal Isaac Mohammed Alfa (1999–2001)
Air Marshal Isaac Mohammed Alfa popularly known as “Air Warrior” in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) circles was born on 15 September, 1950 at Inye in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State. He was enlisted into the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1969 as a member of Regular Combatant Course 6. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in 1971 and rose through the officer ranks to the rank of Air Marshal in 1999. Air Marshal Alfa had a wealth of flying, staff and command experience, which thoroughly prepared him for his eventful tenure as CAS. He was appointed CAS in 1999 and he retired in 2001.
14. Air Marshal Jonah Domfa Wuyep (2001–2006)
Air Marshal Jonah Domfa Wuyep became the fourteenth Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on 24 April, 2001. He was born at Pil-Gani in Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State on 23 November, 1948. He was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1970 and was commissioned into the NAF as a Second Lieutenant in April, 1973. He was appointed as the CAS in April, 2001 and was promoted to the rank of an Air Marshal on 1 October, 2001.
15. Air Marshal Paul Dike (2006–2008)
Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike hails from Issele-Uku in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State. He joined the Nigerian Defence Academy on 22 January 1973 as an officer cadet. He was granted a Regular Combatant commission into the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) as Pilot Officer on 21 June, 1975. He was the Nigerian Air Force’s Chief of the Air Staff from 2006 to 2008. In August 2008, he was appointed the Chief of the Defence Staff. Prior to his appointment as Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Dike was Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command. He was appointed the Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet in 1997 and became the Chief of the Air Staff in 2006.
16. Air Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin (2008–2010)
Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin was born on 19 January, 1955 at Ipetu-Ijesa in Ori-Ade Local Government Area of Osun State. Air Marshal Petinrin enlisted into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in 1974 as a member of Regular Course 16 and was commissioned Pilot Officer on 3 January, 1977. He was the Nigerian Air Force’s Chief of the Air Staff from 2008 to 2010. He was appointed Chief of the Defence Staff and served from 2010 to 2012.
17. Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar (2010–2012)
Air Marshal MD Umar was born on 20 June, 1955 in Kano Municipal Local Government Area of Kano State. He was enlisted into the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in July, 1976 as a member of Short Service Course 12. Prior to his appointment on 19 September, 2010 as the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), he was the Air Officer Commanding Training Command (AOC TC). He was the 17th Chief of the Air Staff who served from 19 September, 2010 to 3 October, 2012.
18. Air Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh (2012–2014)
Air Chief Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh was born on 7 November, 1957 in Vimtim, a little town in Mubi Local Government Area of Adamawa State. He was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of 21 Regular Course on 3 January, 1977 and was commissioned a Pilot Officer on 3 July, 1979. Air Chief Marshal Badeh was the 18th Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) and the 15th Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
19. Air Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu (2014–2015)
Air Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu was born on 1 August, 1958 in Badagry, Lagos State, Nigeria. He was enlisted into the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) through the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of 25 Regular Course on 3 January, 1979. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on 3 July, 1981. Prior to his appointment on 16 January, 2014 as the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), he was the Director of Operations and Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command (AOC TAC). He was the 19th Chief of Air Staff who served from 2014 to 2015.
20. Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar (2015–2021)
Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar was born on 8 April 1960 at Azare in Bauchi State, Nigeria. He joined the Nigerian Air Force as a member of the Cadet Military Training Course (CMTC 5) in November 1979 and was commissioned pilot officer on 15 May 1982. He progressed steadily through the ranks and was promoted to the rank of Air Marshal on 13 August 15. He was the 20th Chief of Air Staff who served from 2015 to 26th January 2021.
21. Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao (2021–2023)
Air Marshal Oladayo Isiaka Amao born on on 14 September 1965 in Enugu and is an indigene of Oshogbo Local Government Area in the State of Osun, South West Nigeria. He joined the Armed Forces of Nigeria as a Cadet of the Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course 35 in January 1984. He progressed steadily through the ranks. He was the 21th Chief of Air Staff who served from 26 January 2021 to 19th June 2023.
22. Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar (2023–2025)
Abubakar replaced Air Vice Marshal Ishiaka Amao, who was appointed as the former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021.
Here is the profile of Air Vice Marshal Abubakar below.
Air Vice Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar was born on 11 September 1970. He hails from Shanono Local Government Area in Kano State. He enlisted into the NAF as a member of NDA RC 39 and commissioned Pilot Offr on September 19, 1992.
The Air Officer Commanding, Logistics Command has attended several courses and acquired notable qualifications, which include:
Bachelor of Science Degree from the Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna.
Ab initio and Basic Flying Training Courses at the 301 Flying Training School Kaduna.
Basic and Advance Airborne Courses at Nigerian Army Infantry Center and School Jaji.
Company Amphibious Operations Course at Nigerian Army Infantry Center and School in Calabar.
Junior and Senior Command and Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji and
National Defence Course at the Nasser Higher Military Academy, Cairo – Egypt.
Master’s Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy from ABU Zaria.
Previous appointments held by Air Vice Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar include:
Admin Officer 16 Engineering Wing, 1 Engineering Group NAF Makurdi.
Officer Commanding Admin Services Flight/ Group Public Relations Officer, 97 Special Operations Group NAF Port Harcourt.
Officer Commanding Yellow Squadron – Air Force Military School Jos.
Officer Commanding ‘B’ Squadron (Do 228) – 81 Air Maritime Group NAF Benin.
Team Leader MILOB Team Site 615 Mahagi (Ituri Brigade) MONUC.
Aviation Planning Officer, MONUC Air Operations Kinshasa, DRC.
Commanding Officer Base Services Wing 81 Air Maritime Group Nigerian Air force Benin.
Operations Officer Operational Conversion Unit 88 Military Airlift group Nigerian air Force Lagos.
Operations Officer 88 Military Airlift Group Ikeja Lagos. Commanding Officer 21 Wing 88 Military Airlift Group Lagos.
Group Safety Officer 88 Military Airlift Group Ikeja Lagos.
Fleet operation officer – 011Presidential Air Fleet.
Commander 011 Presidential Air Fleet.
Chief of Staff, Mobility Command.
Director of Policy, HQ NAF and lastly
Director of Operations, HQ NAF
Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command.
Currently the Chief of Standards and Operations, HQ NAF.
The most senior officer Abubakar has been honoured with several awards and decorations, which include:
Distinguished Service Star.
Passed Staff Course (psc)
Fellow Defence College
Masters in International Affairs.
Member National Institute of Management.
Member Chartered Institute of Public Management.
Member Nigerian Institute of Safety Professionals.
Air Vice Marshal HB Abubakar is happily married with children and in his leisure time, the senior officer enjoys flying airplanes, reading, reflecting and keeping fit.
23. Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke (2025-Present)
Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke as the 23rd Chief of the Air Staff on October 24, 2025, following the retirement of Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar.
The appointment has been described as the beginning of a new era for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) — one characterised by intellectual depth, operational precision, and renewed commitment to strengthening national security and airpower excellence.
According to a statement issued by the Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Aneke was born on 20 February 1972 in Makurdi, Benue State, and hails from Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria.
The son of Air Warrant Officer (Rtd) Sylvester and Mrs. Ngozi Aneke, he began his early education at Army Children School, New Cantonment ‘A’, Kaduna (1976–1982) and later attended Government College, Kaduna (1982–1987), where he developed the discipline and leadership traits that have guided his distinguished career.
He was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) as a member of the 40th Regular Combatant Course and was commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force as a Pilot Officer on 10 September 1993, marking the beginning of a brilliant and meritorious military journey.
Education and Academic Achievements
Air Vice Marshal Aneke is a highly accomplished scholar and strategic thinker. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from the University of Calabar, and two Master’s Degrees — one in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and another in Political Economy and Development Studies from the University of Abuja.
He also holds a Professional Certificate in Aviation Safety Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida, USA, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), reflecting his dedication to continuous learning and strategic leadership.
Military Training and Professional Courses
Air Vice Marshal Aneke has attended several prestigious military institutions both in Nigeria and abroad. He completed the Junior and Senior Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, and later earned a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the United States Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
His military training and exposure have equipped him with the expertise to manage complex air operations and formulate strategic defence policies essential for modern warfare.
Appointments and Command Experience
Over the course of his distinguished career, Air Vice Marshal Aneke has held several command, instructional, and staff appointments, which shaped his operational and leadership acumen.
These include;
Director of Policy, Nigerian Air Force Headquarters
Director of Safety, Nigerian Air Force Headquarters
Deputy Director of Operations, Nigerian Air Force Headquarters
Command Operations Officer, Tactical Air Command
Deputy Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy
Until his appointment as Chief of the Air Staff, he served as Air Officer Commanding, Mobility Command, Yenagoa, where he enhanced air mobility, strengthened joint force integration, and improved NAF’s strategic response in multi-domain operations.
Operational Experience
An accomplished pilot with over 4,359 flying hours, Air Vice Marshal Aneke is type-rated on several aircraft including the Air Beetle 18, Dornier 228, Citation 500, Falcon 900, Gulfstream V, Gulfstream 550, and Hawker 4000.
His operational experience spans both domestic and international theatres — from Operation Restore Hope in the Niger Delta to United Nations peacekeeping operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC), where he served as Chief of Air Operations, Kindu Region.
Air Vice Marshal Aneke has made significant contributions to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations, enhancing the Nigerian Air Force’s counter-insurgency and air support capabilities.
Awards and Honours
In recognition of his outstanding service and professionalism, Air Vice Marshal Aneke has received several medals and honours, including;
Grand Service Star (GSS)
Distinguished Service Star (DSS)
General Service Medal (GSM)
Forces Service Star (FSS)
Meritorious Service Star (MSS)
Passed Staff Course (psc)
Fellow of the Defence College (fdc)
Member, International Affairs and Diplomacy (MIAD)
He is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and the International Institute of Professional Security (IIPS).
Leadership and Vision
Air Vice Marshal Aneke is widely regarded as a refined officer, visionary leader, and accomplished aviator whose calm disposition, strategic foresight, and results-driven approach have earned him respect within and beyond the Armed Forces.
As he assumes office as the 23rd Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke brings a wealth of experience and strategic depth that are expected to reposition the Nigerian Air Force for greater operational efficiency in combating terrorism, insurgency, and other emerging security challenges.
Under his leadership, the Nigerian Air Force is set to strengthen airpower projection, deepen intelligence-led operations, and drive innovation in defence technology and human capacity development, in line with the renewed vision of the Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
When Al-Amin Mohammed returned home from the Agodi Custodial Centre in Ibadan, Oyo State, on September 14, his family thought the worst was over.
The 30-year-old aluminium fixer and student of a polytechnic in Kwara State had spent days in police detention and prison custody following a dispute that began with an alleged N8,000 debt.
His parents had stood as sureties to perfect his bail.
He was finally home and free.
But his mother, Simiat Mohammed, said the son who returned to the family was not the same man who had left days earlier.
He barely ate. He withdrew from people. Again and again, she said, Al-Amin complained about the humiliation of being detained, taken to court and remanded in prison over an allegation he insisted was untrue.
“He kept saying that they wanted to tarnish his image because he came from a poor family and that he was sent to prison for a crime he did not commit,” the grieving mother told Saturday PUNCH amid tears.
Three days after his release, tragedy struck.
On September 17, Al-Amin ingested rat poison at his residence in Ibadan.
Before then, according to his family, he recorded a voice note expressing frustration and saying what would become his final words to his mother.
“He said the frustration was too much and asked his siblings to take care of me. He mentioned my name and apologised, telling me not to be angry with him,” Simiat recalled.
The family rushed him from one hospital to another in a desperate attempt to save his life.
His father, Habeeb Mohammed, said three hospitals rejected him before the family eventually got to the University College Hospital, Ibadan.
“We were asked to make some payments before he could be attended to. After we paid, the doctor came and told us that he was dead,” he said.
For the Mohammed family, the death brought a devastating end to a chain of events that they say should never have gone beyond a minor disagreement.
How N8,000 debt became police case
According to Simiat, her son had borrowed N23,000 from a Point-of-Sale operator identified simply as Kazeem.
Al-Amin had repaid N15,000, leaving a balance of N8,000.
But a disagreement subsequently broke out, during which Kazeem allegedly seized Al-Amin’s mobile phone over the unpaid balance.
The 30-year-old later returned to retrieve his phone, leading to a struggle.
His mother said the confrontation was minor, but it set off events that eventually took her son through vigilante detention, a police cell, a courtroom and prison custody.
After the altercation, Al-Amin was allegedly detained overnight by a vigilante said to be the father of one of Kazeem’s employees.
The following day, September 9, he was allegedly handed over to officers at the Sanyo Divisional Police Station in Ibadan.
Simiat said she received a call the next day asking her to come to the station.
Like many mothers visiting a detained child, she went there carrying food.
“When I got to the station, I went with food for my son, but they did not allow me to give it to him. After some time, they brought him out of the cell and I spoke with him,” she said.
During that brief encounter, Al-Amin maintained his innocence over another allegation that had entered the dispute that he damaged a mobile phone belonging to Kazeem.
“He told me that he did not touch the phone, let alone spoil it. He said the only money he owed Kazeem was N8,000 and that he went to retrieve his phone after it had been seized, which led to the struggle,” she added.
What Simiat expected would be resolved as a dispute between two young men allegedly took a more serious turn.
She claimed that the Investigating Police Officer, identified as Adekeye, insisted that Al-Amin would be prosecuted despite the family’s appeals for a settlement.
According to her, the family was asked to provide N100,000 for bail and another N70,000 for the damaged phone.
“When Kazeem came to the station, I pleaded with him that we should settle the matter. I also pleaded with the DCO, but he later sent me out of his office.
“The IPO, Adekeye, also said she would ensure that my son was jailed. There was even a police officer pleading on our behalf,” she alleged.
The deceased’s father, Habeeb, gave a similar account.
He alleged that the matter was escalated because the complainant’s father was known to the Divisional Crime Officer.
“When I got there, I begged the DCO that the matter could be settled amicably. But because the father of the complainant was his friend, he said he would deal with my son and send him to prison,” he stated.
The family further alleged that Al-Amin complained of harsh treatment while in detention and said he was pressured to admit that he damaged the phone.
Saturday PUNCH could not independently verify those allegations.
From police cell to prison
On September 10, the family said Al-Amin was taken to court in the Mapo area of Ibadan.
His mother claimed nobody informed the family beforehand.
They only learnt that he had been taken to court after receiving a telephone call.
At the court, the family encountered a lawyer identified as Boluwatife, who, according to Simiat, offered to represent Al-Amin free of charge after hearing about the case.
The court granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
But freedom did not come immediately.
Pending the perfection of his bail conditions, Al-Amin was taken to the Agodi Custodial Centre.
For four days, his parents worked to secure his release.
Eventually, Simiat and Habeeb stood as sureties, and their son walked out of custody on September 14.
The family had won his freedom, but his mother said something appeared to have changed.
‘He stopped eating’
At home, Al-Amin became withdrawn.
The young man who combined aluminium work with his studies and helped support his family stopped eating and talking to people.
His thoughts, the mother said, repeatedly returned to the police station and prison.
He felt humiliated by the experience and worried that his reputation had been destroyed.
Three days after his release, Al-Amin allegedly took the substance that claimed his life.
‘He was our shining light’
Al-Amin’s elder sister, Adenike, said the tragedy deprived the family of one of its major sources of support.
She described him as hardworking and ambitious a young man who earned a living fixing aluminium while pursuing his education.
“He was a hardworking boy. He was working as an aluminium fixer and also going to school. He was the pillar of this family and was taking care of our mother,” she said.
Al-Amin was unmarried and had no child.
“We have lost the shining light of our family,” Adenike added.
A family friend and retired Deputy Superintendent of Police, Isiaka Ayole, said the circumstances surrounding Al-Amin’s arrest, detention and prosecution deserved an independent investigation.
He questioned why the vigilante who allegedly detained the deceased overnight before handing him over to the police was not also investigated.
“This was a simple matter that the police should have helped settle amicably instead of escalating it,” Ayole said.
“I don’t understand the type of policing where somebody is first detained overnight by a vigilante and then handed over to a police officer who is said to be a friend of the complainant’s father.
“The irony is that nothing was said about the person who took the law into his hands. Instead, the person owing N8,000 was taken to court.”
The retired police officer called on the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to investigate the officers involved and establish whether there was any abuse of power.
Mother demands answers
For Simiat, however, the questions are more personal.
In just over a week, she watched her son go from an aluminium worker and student to a detainee, a defendant, a prison inmate and, finally, a young man she said became consumed by the stigma of what had happened to him.
The Mohammed family is now appealing to President Bola Tinubu, the IG and the Oyo State Government to investigate the circumstances surrounding Al-Amin’s death.
They want to know whether the dispute was properly handled and whether any police officer abused his authority.
Speaking through tears, Simiat said her family lacked influence or powerful connections but would continue to seek answers.
“Let them investigate what happened to my son. We don’t have anybody except God,” she said.
“We do not want him to die in vain.”
I only wanted my money, not drag any case – Kazeem
Reacting, Kazeem, who operates a phone-charging point and Point-of-Sale business around the Oni-Gaari area of Ayegun, Ibadan, told Saturday PUNCH that he was shocked to learn of Al-Amin’s death.
He insisted that he never intended to pursue the matter beyond recovering his money.
Kazeem explained that sometime last year, Al-Amin withdrew N7,000 from his apprentice, one Maryam, but allegedly failed to transfer the money to her as promised.
“Al-Amin started avoiding the area until Maryam returned to school without informing me about the incident,” he said.
Kazeem said Maryam later told him what happened when she returned from school few months later and asked whether Al-Amin had deposited the money with him.
“She and her sister traced him to his house and he told them he had given the money to me, so they left. Al-Amin later called me and pleaded that he only told Maryam and her sister that he had given me the money so that they would not embarrass him in his house. Later, his grandmother paid the money.”
On the recent incident, Kazeem said he employed another apprentice, one Iya Ajike.
He said he visited the shop on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, for monitoring and account balancing.
He claimed to have met some people pleading with the apprentice to release Al-Amin’s phone.
According to him, Ajike later explained that Al-Amin had carried out a transaction of about N23,000, collected the money and left his phone at the shop, promising to transfer the money after charging the device.
Kazeem said the deceased later returned, collected the phone and transferred N15,000, claiming he had exceeded his transfer limit for the day and would pay the balance the following day.
He said when the balance was not paid, Al-Amin allegedly began avoiding the apprentice.
Kazeem explained that Ajike eventually traced him to a location where she found him sleeping with the phone beside him, picked up the device and returned to the shop.
He said Al-Amin later arrived with some friends to plead for the release of the phone, an encounter he witnessed.
According to Kazeem, he insisted that Al-Amin pay the outstanding money before the phone would be released.
He said the matter was later taken up by the landlord association after the deceased indicated that he would pay.
Kazeem said on Wednesday night, he was informed of an altercation involving his apprentice and Al-Amin.
“Iya Ajike called me around 10pm that Al-Amin had come to her house around 9pm that he wanted to collect his phone, that someone had sent money to him and he wanted to transfer the debt to her.
“Iya Ajike told me that she told Al Amin that the phone is in the shop and it is late already that he should come back the following day, but Al Amin said he wanted his phone that night. He tried to snatch an Airtel-branded phone we use for our business, which she was using as a torchlight.
“The phone fell down during the struggle and its screen was damaged,” he said.
Kazeem said the landlord association that night asked the parties to return the following morning to resolve the matter.
“In the morning, I was there; we couldn’t resolve the matter because other people also came forward with similar complaints against Al-Amin that he underpayed them whenever he came to withdraw money.”
He said the matter was subsequently referred to a vigilante group, which directed the parties to the Sanyo Police Station after it could not resolve the dispute.
“When we got to the station, the only thing I told the police was that I wanted Al-Amin to take responsibility for the damaged phone and how he was going to repair it. But Al-Amin denied responsibility for the damage, saying he was not responsible for the damaged phone.”
“So, the police detained him that day and asked us to come the following day. They took him to where the charge was read to him and he pleaded not guilty.”
He said the magistrate subsequently ordered that Al-Amin be remanded and adjourned the case until October 10.
Kazeem said he only learnt on Thursday that Al-Amin had been released on bail.
He maintained that he never intended to drag the matter into a legal dispute, adding that his primary concern was to recover the money owed to him.
“In fact, I was discussing with my lawyer that the money used for his bail, had they agreed at the station, this matter would not have got to court. The money I have spent on the case is more than the amount owed,” Kazeem said.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command, Ayanlade Olayinka, said he was not aware of the incident.
A subsequent message sent to him via WhatsApp had not been responded to as of the time of filing this report.
When a child behaves badly in public, people may question the child’s upbringing—but good character begins long before a child steps outside the home.
Parents have a major role to play in teaching children how to behave, communicate and treat other people.
Children need to learn that respect, good manners, responsibility, kindness and self-discipline are values that should be practised every day.
Teach your children to greet people properly, speak politely, respect others, accept correction and understand that their actions have consequences. More importantly, teach them through your own example because children often learn by watching what adults do.
Home training is not about raising children who are perfect. It is about giving them the foundation they need to make responsible choices as they grow.
Parents should not leave the responsibility of teaching values entirely to schools, churches, mosques or society. The home is the first classroom, and parents are a child’s first teachers.
A well-trained child does not only bring pride to the family; good character can also help build a more respectful and responsible society.
What do you think is the most important value parents should teach their children at home?
A mother and her four children were burnt to death on Friday morning in a fire outbreak at their residence in the Okochiri community, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Although the cause of the inferno could not be immediately established, a source who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the incident occurred when an individual attempted to discharge petrol into a jerrycan, causing the product to ignite.
The source added that the petrol was suspected to be bad fuel.
Confirming the incident in an interview with our correspondent, the Commander of the Civilian Joint Task Force in Okrika LGA, Igwe Godswill, said details of the incident remained sketchy.
Godswill stated that the lifeless bodies of the woman and her four children were found when he and his team arrived at the scene.
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He said, “There are no proper details as to what happened. But when we got there, we saw that about four children and their mother, a total of five persons, were burnt and died.
“The police had already arrived and taken proper details of what happened. It is so disheartening that this is happening again in our community.”
Godswill added that local youths had extinguished the fire before his arrival, though the victims were believed to have died before the flames were put out.
He called for an investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident.
Meanwhile, a video of the incident seen by our correspondent showed a woman complaining about the cramped nature of the building, which had its roof and other parts severely damaged.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Blessing Agabe, confirmed the incident, saying the mother and three of her children died.
Agabe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, also disclosed that other occupants of the building sustained injuries, while property worth thousands of naira was destroyed in the inferno.
She added that an investigation had begun to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the incident.
“Yes, there was a fire incident in which a woman and her three children tragically lost their lives, while others sustained injuries.
“Property estimated at thousands of naira was also destroyed in the inferno. Investigation is ongoing to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the cause of the fire outbreak,” the state police image maker stated.
