In a bold move aimed at reforming its wartime conduct and restoring public confidence, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has inaugurated a Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response (CHMR) Board, signaling a renewed commitment to protecting non-combatants during military operations.
The new board is at the heart of NAF’s Civilian Harm Mitigation Action Plan, which seeks to integrate humanitarian principles into combat strategy, especially in conflict-prone regions where the force has faced mounting criticism for civilian casualties resulting from airstrikes.
For years, the Nigerian Air Force has been a frontline force in the country’s battle against insurgency and armed banditry, with extensive operations in the North-East, North-West, and North-Central zones.
But these operations, while effective in reducing insurgent activity, have also been marred by tragic incidents involving mistaken bombings of civilian populations.
The urgency of the new initiative is underscored by past tragedies. On January 17, 2017, a NAF jet mistakenly bombed a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Rann, Borno State, killing at least 112 civilians, including humanitarian workers.
The strike, intended to target Boko Haram militants, became one of the most devastating peacetime errors in Nigerian military history.
More incidents followed:
In April 2021, residents of Mainok reported civilian casualties from an airstrike allegedly aimed at insurgents.
In September 2021, a misdirected airstrike in Maru, Zamfara State, resulted in the deaths of nine villagers.
And in January 2023, an operation in Nasawa, Niger State, again led to unintended civilian deaths, further fueling demands for accountability.
Though NAF admitted some of the errors and initiated internal probes, critics, including international rights groups, have long pushed for structural reforms and independent oversight—demands that may now be partially met by the newly formed CHMR Board.
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At Tuesday’s inauguration ceremony in Abuja, NAF spokesman Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame relayed a message from the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, delivered through Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola, head of Civil-Military Relations.
“The NAF remains resolute in ensuring its missions are conducted with precision, accountability, and humanity,” said the CAS.
“This board will ensure that our commitment is translated into measurable action.”
The board is expected to serve as both watchdog and coordinator—reviewing harm incidents, conducting assessments, and drawing lessons from operational outcomes.
It will work closely with civil society, NGOs, intelligence sources, and even open-source platforms to identify trends and improve safeguards.
While the path to full accountability remains long, the NAF’s latest move may offer hope to communities that have endured the unintended consequences of warfare.