The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting civilians while sustaining military pressure on terrorist groups across various theatres of operation in the country. Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, made this known on Monday during the inauguration of the Basic Civilian Harm Mitigation (CHM) Course 1/2026 at the Air Warfare and Doctrine Centre in Abuja.
Aneke said ongoing joint military operations have significantly reduced the operational freedom of terrorist groups, forcing them to adopt more desperate tactics. He noted that the NAF, working with other security agencies, continues to deploy persistent surveillance, rapid response capability and interagency collaboration to keep hostile elements under pressure.
Represented by the Director of Air Operations at NAF Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal A. Bamidele, the Air Chief stressed that protecting civilian lives during military operations strengthens, rather than weakens, operational effectiveness. According to him, safeguarding civilians enhances public trust, operational legitimacy and the professional reputation of the Air Force.
He explained that the Civilian Harm Mitigation course is designed to equip participants with the skills needed to integrate civilian protection into operational planning, intelligence analysis, targeting decisions and mission execution, while also deepening understanding of International Humanitarian Law and Rules of Engagement.
The course, which has 26 participants including pilots, UAV operators, legal advisers and civil-military relations officers, aims to improve professional judgement and operational decision-making in complex environments where civilians and combatants often operate in close proximity.
