DHQ, British Defence Staff Train Frontline Troops on Civil-Military Relations in Borno

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), in collaboration with the British Defence Staff, has launched a four-day intensive training program on civil-military relations and human security for frontline troops engaged in Operation Hadin Kai in Borno State.

The training, which began on Monday in Maiduguri, the state capital, is targeted at equipping military personnel with essential skills and knowledge to improve interactions with civilian populations in conflict-affected areas.

This initiative is seen as a critical step in enhancing peacebuilding efforts and fostering trust between security forces and communities recovering from insurgency.

Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole, Chief of Defence Civil-Military Relations, spoke to journalists at the opening session of the program.

He emphasized that the initiative aligns with the operational philosophy of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, who prioritizes sustainable peace alongside tactical military victories.

“This is part of the guiding principles of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa. Aside from winning the war, he wants to sustain the peace,” Rear Admiral Bankole said. “And to sustain peace, you must build human security capacity. That is why he has sent us from the Defence Headquarters to sensitise the men on human security and civil-military cooperation.”

Rear Admiral Bankole stressed the need to reshape public perception of the military as merely a combat force. He noted that the training aims to humanize the military in the eyes of civilians and equip troops with tools to engage communities respectfully and constructively.

“You know, the average man on the street sees the military man as brutish or rough. But this is not so; we are partners in progress,” he explained. “The military is being paid by taxes collected from the civilian population. Therefore, what the CDS is doing now is sensitising both the troops and the civilian population to erase that ignorance and build mutual understanding.”

The program, jointly facilitated by British defence experts and Nigerian military officials, includes modules on human rights, humanitarian coordination, conflict sensitivity, and strategic communication with civilian populations.

Rear Admiral Bankole also highlighted the Nigerian military’s broader community engagement efforts, including infrastructure development and protection of livelihoods.

“You can see how the military has taken up projects building roads, drilling boreholes, even escorting farmers to their farms. These are part of the efforts to show that we are not just fighters but also builders of peace,” he added.

The British Defence Staff praised the initiative as a forward-looking move to bridge the gap between military forces and the communities they protect.

Analysts have welcomed the training as a step toward consolidating military gains in the North-East, particularly in restoring civilian confidence and rebuilding war-torn societies.

Operation Hadin Kai is Nigeria’s primary counter-insurgency campaign in the North-East, and this civil-military training underscores a shift in strategy that puts people at the center of national security efforts.