Military Reaffirms Civilian Protection as Top Priority, Partners US on Harm Mitigation Training

In a strong reaffirmation of its commitment to protect non-combatants, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has declared that safeguarding civilian lives remains central to Nigeria’s military operations.

This resolve was underscored during a Civilian Harm Mitigation Seminar jointly organised by the DHQ and the United States Institute for Security Governance, held in Abuja.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the seminar on Wednesday, Chief of Defence Civil-Military Relations, Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole, emphasised that the protection of civilians during military operations is of utmost importance.

“Civilian mitigation is critical to our operations right now,” he said.
“As you are aware, unfortunately, Nigeria has been fighting an insurgency for the last 15 years and has been fought in mostly populated civilian areas. Some of the civilians are used as collateral damages or are being forced.

“That is why the CDS in his wisdom, as part of his command philosophy, noted that he will be human-centric or people-centric in his philosophy. So there is a need for us to care for civilians and that is why the Institute of Security Governance from the USA now decided to team up with the Defence Headquarters Department of Civil Military Relations to sensitise and educate our men on civilian harm mitigation.”

Rear Admiral Bankole noted that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, places a high premium on civilian safety, stressing that the preservation of innocent lives is central to all military engagements.

He said the two-day intensive training was aimed at sharing critical lessons with the Armed Forces of Nigeria to strengthen their approach to civilian protection. The seminar brought together participants from all military theatres and services across the country.

According to him, the initiative is a key part of the CDS’s human-centric strategy, which aims to ensure that no civilian is discriminated against during military operations.

“We must also protect infrastructure and uphold the territorial integrity of our nation,” he added.

Rear Admiral Bankole highlighted that the DHQ had stepped up its non-kinetic efforts, recognising the importance of collaboration with local communities in the fight against terrorism and other threats.

He appreciated the team of experts from the United States for the impactful training and urged participants to apply the knowledge gained in their respective areas of operation to support the military’s strategic goals.

Retired Major General Miguel Castellanos, Country Lead for the US Institute for Security Governance, reiterated the importance of joint efforts in mitigating civilian harm.

“Civilian harm mitigation is a joint effort of all actors, especially the Army, Navy and Air Force,” Castellanos said.
He urged enhanced cooperation among the services to improve coordination and leverage their collective strengths.

Castellanos reaffirmed the commitment of the US Institute to continuing its partnership with the Nigerian military to further enhance its capacity in key operational areas.