By Gabriel Ameh
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has intensified its civil–military cooperation efforts through renewed strategic engagements with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP).
This was contained in a statement signed by Ehimen Ejodame Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force on 28 November 2025
According to the statement, the visits, led by the Chief of Civil-Military Relations (CCMR), Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, align with the vision of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, to institutionalise intelligence-led, accountable, and smart operations across all NAF missions.
During the engagement with the NHRC, the Executive Secretary, Dr Tony Ojukwu, hailed NAF’s continuous reforms as “bold, deliberate and necessary,” particularly the integration of civilian protection mechanisms into air operations.
He noted that the Service’s ongoing efforts to strengthen accountability protocols, enhance post-strike assessment systems, and mitigate civilian harm represent a major milestone in embedding human rights principles into national security practice.
Dr Ojukwu also encouraged the revival of the NHRC–Military Dialogue as a sustainable platform for transparent engagement, joint problem-solving, and alignment with domestic and international humanitarian standards.
At NAPTIP and the DPP, AVM Gabkwet held strategic discussions with the Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, and the Director of Public Prosecution, Mohammed Abubakar Babadoko. Conversations focused on strengthening case-management systems involving military personnel, improving prosecution pathways, safeguarding vulnerable populations, and expanding joint training programmes to enhance legal awareness and operational discipline within the Service.
AVM Gabkwet reaffirmed that under the leadership of the CAS, the Air Force remains committed to neutralising threats with both precision and responsibility. “Our operations must protect the people we serve. Precision must match restraint. Force must be guided by intelligence, legality, and accountability,” he stated.
These multi-agency engagements are central to the CAS’s strategic objective of embedding data fusion, rights-based frameworks, and inter-agency cooperation into operational planning to improve mission outcomes while safeguarding civilian lives.
The NAF delegation comprised senior officers overseeing human rights compliance, legal coordination, gender affairs, and inter-agency relations—underscoring strong institutional commitment to long-term partnership.
Through these strengthened collaborations, the Nigerian Air Force continues its transformation into a force where operational excellence and civilian protection work hand-in-hand, fostering a safer, smarter, and more humane security environment for all Nigerians.
