Nigeria’s defence chief has defended military operations against insurgents and criminal gangs causing civilian casualties, asserting that the armed forces are striving to minimise loss of life.
Nigeria’s military has increasingly used airstrikes against the growing threat of militias in the north and central regions. It has admitted to mistakenly targeting civilians while pursuing armed gangs in the northwest, where there is widespread insecurity, and has promised to investigate such cases.
Defence Chief of Staff General Christopher Musa also called for a review of international laws, arguing that they restrict state forces while leaving non-state actors “who kill at will” unchecked.
In rare comments to reporters in the capital, Abuja, on Wednesday, Musa said the military frequently halts operations to prevent civilian harm, even at the cost of compromising tactical advantages.
‘Striving To Protect Civilians’
“We are made to look as if we are committing the worst atrocities ever, but I can assure you that we are doing the best we can. We respect human rights and value civilian lives,” he said.
“We often abort operations to avoid civilian casualties … this has, in part, prolonged the conflict.”
The remarks come after growing scrutiny of Nigeria’s counterinsurgency operations and accusations by rights groups that the military has used excessive force.
But there are frustrations within Nigeria’s armed forces, where many believe they are being judged against higher standards than comparable forces in more developed countries.
They also say too little account is taken of the difficulties of fighting informal armed Islamist insurgents or criminal gangs who operate entirely among civilians.
The general cited ongoing training in human rights and international humanitarian law for military personnel, both locally and abroad, as evidence of progress.
Nearly 600 Killed In Airstrikes
Nigeria’s military has killed 592 armed militia members in Borno State over the past eight months, following intensified airstrikes in the violence-plagued region, the air force said.
The results surpassed the operational gains recorded in 2024, Chief of Air Staff Hasan Abubakar said during a visit to Borno Governor Babagana Zulum on Tuesday.
Abubakar said the air force also destroyed more than 200 technical vehicles and 166 logistics hubs in a sweeping offensive against insurgents in the northeast.
Militants from Boko Haram and its splinter group, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have attacked security forces and civilians in Nigeria’s northeast, causing widespread displacement and thousands of deaths.
Militia gangs in Borno State have killed at least 2,000 people since 2023, according to Nigeria Watch, a database that monitors lethal conflicts and security in the country.
(With inputs from Reuters)
