By Abdul Lauya
ABUJA — The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has unveiled its Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan (CHMRAP), a landmark policy designed to reduce civilian casualties during military air operations.
The policy was formally launched during the NAF’s 61st Anniversary Seminar in Abuja, marking what many observers see as a long-overdue response to past incidents of collateral damage.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, said the plan demonstrates NAF’s renewed commitment to democratic values, precision warfare, and the sanctity of civilian life.
The CHMRAP aims to institutionalize accountability and restraint in conflict zones, especially during counterinsurgency operations.
But while the policy is being celebrated, many Nigerians remember the painful legacies of past airstrikes that struck IDP camps, wedding gatherings, and village homes far from combatants.
From Rann to Borno and parts of the Northwest, civilian lives have been lost in mistaken air raids — tragedies that often went without transparent investigations or meaningful restitution.
Analysts say this new framework is both welcome and overdue, given Nigeria’s long history of military misfires in asymmetric warfare.
Civil society groups have questioned whether the government has adequately compensated the victims and families affected by these errors.
There is growing public demand for not just mitigation in future operations but justice and reparations for past harms.
The CHMRAP rollout comes as NAF seeks to rebuild public trust and redefine its engagement strategy in internal security operations.
Keynote speakers at the seminar stressed the importance of civil-military dialogue and transparent incident reporting mechanisms under the new plan.
Human rights advocates say the success of CHMRAP will depend on how sincerely it is implemented and whether it is backed by political will and legal safeguards.
If this marks a real turning point, many believe it should start with answers and amends for yesterday’s victims, not just protection for tomorrow’s.
