Chief of the Air Staff, Hassan Abubakar, on Thursday announced plans to ensure the ultimate objective of less than zero civilian casualties within the Operation Fansan Yamma Sector (2) theatres.
Abubakar disclosed this during a working visit to the Nigerian Air Force’s 213 Operating Base, Katsina, to sensitize the troops on the efforts made by the Nigerian Air Force aimed at putting in place policies, measures, and strategies that will mitigate harm to civilians within the theater they are operating.
He therefore urged troops of Operation Fansan Yamma Sector (2) to redouble their efforts towards ensuring that all criminal elements within the theatre are dealt with decisively.
Abubakar also commended the air component for their operations in the Northwest theatre on the efforts they have made in dealing with the criminal elements and terrorists.
While commending the troops for their efforts towards ensuring the nation’s security and curbing the activities of bandits and terrorists within the theatre, he charged them to ensure that peace is restored to the Northwest for citizens to go about their lawful activities.
The Chief of the Air Staff, represented by the Chief of Civil-Military Relations, Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola, however, reminded troops that their operations in these areas in terms of counter terrorism and counter-insurgency operations will continually be bound by the laws of armed conflicts and international humanitarian law.
He underscored the need for greater collaboration with state, local councils, as well as other security agencies that are operating within the theatres to ensure that the intelligence that is received is what can be made confirmatory to be actionable without any disruptions along the line.
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“That is part of why I am here, for us to streamline those intelligence operations in order to get better results for the efforts and to be more effective in the conduct of our operations in line with our rules of engagement, which is also part of why we are here.
“We want to achieve the ultimate objective of less than zero civilian casualties within the theatres.
“Another reason for this visit is to further sensitize the troops on the efforts made by the Nigerian Air Force to put in place policies and strategies that will mitigate harm to civilians within the theater they are operating,” he noted.
In his remarks, Commander of the Nigerian Air Force’s 213 Operating Base in Katsina, who doubles as the Air Component Commander for the North-West Security Operations, Air Commodore Ibrahim Garba Jibia, believed that the visit will be a game changer for the troops expected to achieve additional successes.
Source: Channels TV
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