By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
In a move aimed at rebuilding public trust and ensuring safer military operations in conflict-prone regions, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has inaugurated a Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response (CHMR) Board, with a clear mandate to prevent civilian casualties during air operations in areas like Zamfara, Borno, and other hotspots.
The initiative, unveiled on Tuesday at NAF Headquarters in Abuja, represents a major shift in Nigeria’s military strategy placing the protection of civilians at the core of its combat doctrine.
For families caught in the crossfire of banditry and insurgency, the development brings hope of fewer accidental strikes and better accountability when things go wrong.
“We’ve seen too many cases where innocent civilians, especially women and children, bear the brunt of conflict,” said Fatima Yakubu, a community leader from Zamfara. “This is a welcome step if it will truly reduce harm and improve how the military operates around civilians.”
The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, who was represented at the event by Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola, emphasized that civilian protection will no longer be treated as optional—it will be a mandatory part of every mission plan.
“We are embedding civilian protection into the very heart of our air power doctrine,” he said. “This Board is not for show. It will ensure our commitment is turned into measurable actions.”
The newly inaugurated board is charged with implementing the Civilian Harm Mitigation Action Plan (CHMR-AP) across NAF’s operations including intelligence gathering, combat mission assessments, and feedback from communities and partners.
The CHMR Board will coordinate closely with NAF’s Civilian Harm Assessment and Investigation Cell, which will be responsible for investigating incidents, analyzing trends, and offering lessons to improve future operations.
“We will work with data from both internal and external sources,” Air Marshal Abubakar added, citing combat intelligence, reports from civil society organizations, NGOs, and even open-source media.
The goal, according to the air chief, is to reduce harm, respond more effectively when incidents occur, and embed accountability into the chain of command.
The inauguration comes at a critical time. Over the years, civilian casualties during anti-terror operations in the North-East and North-West have drawn widespread concern and criticism. Some tragic airstrike incidents have led to loss of innocent lives and deepened distrust between affected communities and the military.
Security analysts and humanitarian workers have hailed the initiative as a potentially transformative tool if implemented with sincerity and transparency.
“Military accountability for civilian harm has long been overdue,” said Chinedu Eze, a security policy researcher. “What matters now is execution. Will this board truly have the power to investigate and push for change or will it be another token committee?”
For now, the NAF’s bold step signals a renewed willingness to reflect, learn, and act differently especially in regions already suffering the double burden of insecurity and humanitarian crises. For many in those communities, it may finally be a chance to feel seen, heard, and protected.