Collateral damage: Nigeria Air Force vows to prioritise civilian protection

Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, has calmed the frayed nerves of civilians amid concerns over accidental bombings during air raids on terrorist and bandit hideouts.

In a statement signed by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, on Monday, Abubakar said the force will continue to prioritise the protection of unarmed civilian populations within the areas of operation.

CAS stressed that it has become imperative to protect civilians and consistently employ precision strikes to sustain public trust, given the level of unintended and occasional collateral damage resulting from the bombing of civilian locations while targeting terrorists’ and bandits’ hideouts during air interdictions.

Also addressing frontline personnel during the engagement, the Chief of Civil-Military Relations, CCMR, Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola, showered encomium on the troops for their tactical achievements under Operation Fansan Yamma, describing their success stories as a testament to the transformational leadership and strategic foresight of the Chief of the Air Staff.

“Every action we take must demonstrate not only tactical efficiency but also strategic empathy. The enduring trust of the people remains the Nigerian Air Force’s most potent force multiplier.

“This is the people’s Air Force, we are here to protect them. But to be truly effective, we need their trust and the provision of timely, credible intelligence to decisively neutralise criminal elements,” he said.

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