Odita Sunday 
By Odita Sunday
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has intensified efforts to bolster its counter-terrorism and internal security operations, subjecting trainees of its Special Forces Course 13/2026 to a grueling final Physical Fitness Test aimed at screening only the most resilient and combat-ready personnel for deployment against terrorists, insurgents and kidnappers.
The rigorous assessment, conducted on May 30, 2026, at the Regiment Training Centre Annex (RTCA), Bauchi, marked a crucial stage in the selection process for elite Special Forces operators. Trainees were tested through a series of demanding physical and mental exercises designed to evaluate endurance, discipline, resilience and operational readiness under pressure.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on May 31 by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame.
Speaking on the significance of the exercise, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, said the nation’s evolving security challenges require highly trained and mission-ready personnel capable of responding effectively to emerging threats.
According to him, the Nigerian Air Force remains committed to supporting ongoing counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency and internal security operations across the country, with a focus on safeguarding lives, securing communities and maintaining national stability.
“The Nigerian Air Force will continue to train, equip and deploy personnel capable of taking the fight to terrorists, kidnappers and other criminal elements wherever they may be found,” Aneke said.
He added: “Those who threaten innocent citizens, terrorise communities and undermine the peace of our nation must understand that there will be no sanctuary for criminality. Our resolve is unwavering, and our commitment to protecting Nigerians remains absolute.”
Also speaking during the exercise, the Commandant of RTCA Bauchi, Squadron Leader Edeama Lawrence Akpan, said the assessment was structured to ensure that only trainees demonstrating exceptional physical fitness, determination and operational readiness would progress on the course.
Akpan noted that Special Forces personnel are often required to operate in hostile and austere environments where mission success depends largely on physical endurance, mental toughness and unwavering dedication to duty.
He described the fitness test as a critical benchmark for measuring the preparedness of trainees for future special operations and other operational responsibilities.
The exercise, according to the Air Force, underscores its determination to sustain a highly capable fighting force through realistic training and strict professional standards, while producing Special Forces operators equipped to confront contemporary security threats and support ongoing military operations nationwide.
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