By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has intensified efforts to minimise civilian harm in conflict zones by completing a five-day Civilian Harm Mitigation (CHM) training.
This is contained in a statement by NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, on Sunday in Abuja.
Ejodame said the course, held at the Air Warfare and Doctrine Centre (AWDC), Abuja, brought together pilots, UAV operators, legal officers, armament specialists, and public relations experts.
He said the training, directed by the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, would run in three batches with Conflict, Security and Development Consult Limited.
Modules covered included International Humanitarian Law, rules of engagement, ordnance selection to minimise collateral damage, positive target identification, the No-Strike List, and the Sensitive Target Approval and Review (STAR) process.
The CAS described the initiative as an extension of NAF’s Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan (CHMR-AP), launched earlier this year.
He said the plan had already reduced collateral damage incidents, despite the sustained tempo of military operations.
“From the very beginning of my tenure, I made it clear that protecting civilians is not just a moral duty, but a professional imperative,” Abubakar said.
Also, AVM Edward Gabkwet, representing the Chief of Civil-Military Relations, AVM Ibikunle Olorunmola Daramola, said civilian protection would help build trust with communities and enhance operational effectiveness.
According to him, when communities see extraordinary measures taken to protect them, trust grows. Such trust improves intelligence sharing and isolates hostile actors.
With two more batches expected to complete training by September, NAF said civilian protection would remain central to its doctrine in all theatres of operation.
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