The Nigerian Air Force has said minimising civilian harm during military operations is both a moral responsibility and a strategic necessity in counter-terrorism and counterinsurgency efforts.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, stated this on Friday at the graduation of participants of NAF’s Civilian Harm Mitigation Training, in Abuja.
He was represented at the event by the Chief of Civil-Military Relations, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Ibikunle Daramola.
Abubakar said civilian protection was now central to modern warfare, especially as Nigeria faced persistent threats from terrorists and insurgents across various regions.
“Our investment in civilian harm mitigation reflects our resolve. Protecting civilians is a legal, moral, and strategic necessity,” he said.
He added that such protections enhance operational legitimacy, mission success, and trust from communities NAF was mandated to protect.
The CAS stressed that every decision in combat had humanitarian consequences that could affect Nigeria’s global image and strategic alliances.
He emphasised that international humanitarian and human rights laws were not barriers but enhancers of military effectiveness in asymmetric warfare.
“Civilian protection builds trust, aids intelligence, and contributes to long-term peace and stability,” Abubakar said at the graduation ceremony.
He recalled that NAF launched its Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan earlier in 2025 to institutionalise accountability and protection principles.
He said the Air Warfare and Doctrine Centre (AWDC) were designated as the core training and policy hub for implementing the action plan within the Air Force.
Earlier, AVM Michael Ekweme, Commandant of AWDC, said the centre would continue to serve as NAF’s base for harm mitigation training and partner collaboration.
“To the graduates, take these lessons to your units and apply them. You and your commanders now speak the same language,” Ekweme advised.
Lead training facilitator, Retired Group Captain Garba Shehu, highlighted that civilian harm undermined local trust and could strain Nigeria’s international partnerships and peacekeeping reputation.
Shehu disclosed that 69 participants were trained in three batches, with knowledge levels increasing from an average of 45–51 per cent to 76–98 per cent after the intensive course.
He added that participants received tools such as checklists, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and laminated field guides for integrating protection into mission planning.
“Civilian harm mitigation doesn’t tie operators’ hands, it strengthens professionalism and enables strategic success beyond the battlefield,” Shehu said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NAF’s programme aligns with international humanitarian law and UN resolutions on civilian protection during armed conflict.
(NAN)
