Esther Oseyiomon
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting civilians while sustaining operational pressure on terrorist groups across various theatres of operation.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, made the pledge during the inauguration of the Basic Civilian Harm Mitigation Course 1/2026 at the Air Warfare and Doctrine Centre in Abuja.
Aneke, represented by the Director of Air Operations, Air Vice Marshal A. Bamidele, said joint military operations had significantly reduced the operational freedom of terrorist groups.
He noted that the Air Force continues to maintain persistent surveillance, rapid response capability and strong interagency collaboration to keep hostile elements under pressure.
The Air Chief emphasised that protecting civilian lives during air operations strengthens operational legitimacy and public trust in the military.
According to him, the Civilian Harm Mitigation course was designed to equip participants with skills needed to integrate civilian protection into operational planning and mission execution.
He added that the training would deepen understanding of international humanitarian law, rules of engagement and proper target identification during operations.
The course, organised for 26 participants including pilots, UAV operators, legal advisers and civil-military relations officers, aims to strengthen professional judgement and operational decision-making in complex conflict environments.