The Chief of Air Force Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, said terrorists are increasingly resorting to desperate tactics following sustained pressure by the Nigerian military.

Aneke, however, said that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), in coordination with other security agencies, would maintain persistent surveillance, rapid response capability, and strong interagency collaboration to ensure that hostile elements remain under sustained pressure.

The Air Chief disclosed this at the inauguration of the Basic Civilian Harm Mitigation (CHM) Course 1/2026 at the Air Warfare and Doctrine Centre (AWDC), Abuja.

The course has 26 participants comprising air component commanders, operational pilots, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle operators, legal advisers, and Civil-Military Relations officers.

The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) recently carried out multiple attacks on military bases in Borno Communities of Konduga, Jakana, Mainok, Kawuri Ngoshe, Pulka, Goniri and Kukawa, during which many civilians and some soldiers were killed, among other attacks.

Speaking during the inauguration of the course, Aneke said that safeguarding civilian lives during air operations is not a constraint on military effectiveness but rather a force multiplier that enhances operational legitimacy and success.

Represented by the Director of Air Operations, Air Vice Marshal A. Bamidele, the CAS said: “Civilian Harm Mitigation (CHM) remains a critical component of modern air operations as it reinforces the NAF’s commitment to protecting civilian lives and infrastructure while delivering decisive air power.

Aneke explained that the Basic CHM Course was carefully designed to equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and judgement required to effectively integrate civilian protection considerations into operational planning, intelligence processes, targeting decisions, and mission execution.

MEANWHILE, the Nigerian Army has said it plans to train more medical doctors in specialised fields in South Africa as part of efforts to strengthen medical support for troops and improve the quality of healthcare services available to personnel across formations.

The initiative is expected to enhance the army’s ability to effectively manage combat-related injuries and routine medical needs, particularly for troops deployed in various operational theatres.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu disclosed this at a bilateral meeting with the visiting Chief of the South African Army, Lieutenant General Lawrence Mbatha.

Shaibu said the proposed training would focus on critical medical fields such as forensic pathology and trauma-related critical care, which are essential in managing injuries sustained during military operations.

“These are opportunities that we will bring to the table and also opportunities that we would like to explore in South Africa,” he said.

“Other areas that we can look forward to include training for our medical personnel in South African military health services and institutions.”

Currently, we are looking forward to avenues to train additional doctors in critical areas like forensic pathology as well as critical care, especially relating to trauma injuries.”

He explained that the initiative forms part of broader military cooperation between Nigeria and South Africa, particularly in the areas of training, knowledge exchange and capacity building.