Collateral Damage In Operations Reduced, Says CAS

Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, says collateral damage from Nigerian Air Force (NAF) operations nationwide has decreased in recent months, despite sustained air strikes against terrorists and other criminals.

He attributed it to the Civilian Harm Mitigation (CHM) training provided for personnel directly involved in operations.

Air Marshal Abubakar, in a statement by the NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, on Sunday, noted that  the training, an extension of the NAF’s Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan (CHMR-AP) launched earlier this year, has equipped NAF officers with the tools, judgment, and mindset to protect innocent lives in complex operational environments.

He said, “From the very beginning of my tenure, I made it clear that protecting civilians is not just a moral duty, it is a professional imperative.

The CHMR-AP was our blueprint to institutionalise this principle, ensuring that every commander, crew, and analyst is trained to apply the highest standards of humanitarian consideration in mission planning and execution.

“We have seen the difference that deliberate planning, real-time intelligence, and strict targeting protocols can make. This training takes those lessons further, giving our officers the tools, judgement, and mindset to protect innocent lives even in the most complex operational environments.”

Air Marshal Abubakar said the initiative reflects the NAF’s unwavering resolve to ensure that precision, legality, and humanity remain at the heart of every mission.

The representative of the Chief of Civil-Military Relations, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, said at least 30 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) officers have completed the inaugural five-day intensive CHM course.

He said the officers, comprising pilots, UAV operators, armament specialists, legal officers, and public relations experts, were drawn from various NAF departments, reflecting the service’s commitment to a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to protecting civilians.

Gabkwet stressed that the approach goes beyond mere compliance with international law, framing civilian protection as a strategic advantage.

He emphasised the significance of trust in operation, noting that trust is built when communities see that we take extraordinary measures to keep them safe.

“That trust is a force multiplier; it strengthens intelligence sharing and isolates hostile actors.

“Protecting civilians is not only the right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do,” he said.