Civilian casualty claims undermine air operations legitimacy, CAS warns

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, has warned that allegations of civilian casualties arising from military air operations have far-reaching consequences on mission legitimacy, public confidence and the reputation of the Nigerian Air Force.

Aneke stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at the maiden seminar on Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response for Strategic Level Officers.

According to him, while the Nigerian Air Force remains committed to professional and responsible air operations, allegations of civilian harm have underscored the need for stronger institutional understanding and application of civilian protection principles.

He said, “Allegations arising from some past air operations involving civilian casualties have brought to the fore the need for stronger institutional understanding and application of the principles of civilian harm mitigation and response, mostly in the areas of transparency, accountability and continuous operational evaluation.

“These incidents, whether verified or alleged, have far-reaching ramifications on mission legitimacy, public confidence and relationship with our stakeholders, both domestic and foreign.

“More importantly, they affect the reputation and integrity of the Nigerian Air Force as a disciplined and professional force.”

The air chief said operational success in contemporary warfare should not be measured solely by tactical achievements but also by the extent to which civilian lives and property are protected.

“As we continue to confront complex and asymmetric security threats across the various theatres of operation, it has also become increasingly evident that operational success can no longer be measured solely by tactical achievements but by the extent to which civilian lives and properties are protected,” he said.

Aneke noted that maintaining the trust and confidence of citizens remained critical to achieving lasting operational success, adding that the NAF had continued to take deliberate steps to institutionalise civilian harm mitigation and response mechanisms.

“As an institution, we recognise that maintaining the trust and confidence of our citizens is essential to achieving lasting operational success.

“Accordingly, the Nigerian Air Force has continued to take deliberate steps toward institutionalising civilian harm mitigation and response mechanisms, especially at the tactical and operational level,” he said.

The air chief explained that the seminar was organised to improve the understanding of strategic-level officers whose decisions and responses shape institutional narratives and operational effectiveness.

He stressed that civilian harm mitigation and response should not be viewed as a limitation to military operations.

“Civilian harm mitigation and response is not a constraint on our operational effectiveness; rather, it is a framework that enhances precision, improves decision-making, and ultimately preserves strategic legitimacy.

“It is about sharpening our thinking before action, improving our awareness during operations and strengthening our accountability measures thereafter.

“Most importantly, it is about people and recognising that most operations occur in environments where they live, work and hope for safety,” he said.

Aneke urged military commanders and personnel to strengthen target verification processes, assess operational outcomes thoroughly and learn from every mission, especially when operations do not go as planned.

“Where harm does occur, our response must be measured to reflect professionalism, honesty and responsibility,” he added.

Aneke expressed confidence that the seminar would deepen discussions on best practices and practical approaches to reducing civilian harm while maintaining operational effectiveness in ongoing security operations across the country.

The Nigerian military has faced criticism over reports of civilian casualties during some counterinsurgency air operations, particularly in the North-East and North-West. While the military has often attributed such incidents to faulty intelligence, mistaken identity, or the complex nature of operations against insurgents embedded within civilian populations, rights groups and affected communities have repeatedly called for greater accountability and measures to protect non-combatants.

The Nigerian Air Force has, in recent years, introduced initiatives aimed at strengthening civilian protection and improving transparency in military operations.