NAF Airlifts 198 Troops to Gambia for ECOWAS Mission

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) successfully airlifted 198 personnel from Nigerian Company 11 to Gambia for an ECOWAS mission, conducting two sorties between May 26 and May 30, 2026. This operation was carried out using a C-130H aircraft and facilitated the rotation of Nigerian Company 10 alongside the transport of operational equipment and personnel.

The mission demonstrates NAF's strategic airlift capabilities and its ability to rapidly deploy forces to support peace and stability across the ECOWAS sub-region. Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sundai Anek stated that air power is critical in responding to evolving security challenges in the region.

The deployment reflects Nigeria's operational readiness to reinforce its leadership role in regional peace efforts, with the NAF being a significant contributor to the ECOWAS mission in Gambia since 2017, following the political crisis that erupted after former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh's refusal to concede defeat in the 2016 presidential election.