NAF chief says civilian casualty allegations hurt military’s image

The Chief of the Air Staff of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, has highlighted the significant negative consequences of civilian casualty allegations stemming from military air operations. Aneke stated that such claims have far-reaching impacts on mission legitimacy, public confidence, and the overall reputation of the Nigerian Air Force.

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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.

Speaking at a seminar on Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response in Abuja, Aneke emphasized that while the NAF is committed to professional operations, allegations of civilian harm necessitate a stronger institutional grasp and application of civilian protection principles. He specifically pointed to the need for enhanced transparency, accountability, and continuous operational evaluation.

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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.

Aneke asserted that these incidents, whether verified or alleged, affect the NAF's integrity as a disciplined and professional force. He further stated that contemporary warfare demands that operational success be evaluated not solely on tactical gains but crucially on the extent to which civilian lives and property are safeguarded. Maintaining public trust, he added, is essential for achieving lasting operational success, and the NAF is actively working to institutionalize mechanisms for mitigating and responding to civilian harm.

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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.