The Nigerian Army has trained 149 personnel in combat manoeuvres and tactical operations to strengthen counter-terrorism efforts and improve responses to emerging security threats.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu spoke at the graduation ceremony of the Combat Manoeuvre and Tactical Course 1/2026, conducted in partnership with the Nigerian Air Force Regiment Training Centre Annex at the Special Operations Base in Bauchi.
Shaibu, represented by the General Officer Commanding 3 Division, Maj.-Gen. Maxwell Wunuken Dangana, said the Army had prioritised capacity building to improve professionalism, discipline and combat readiness.
He said the training was designed to strengthen the troop operational competence and prepare them to respond effectively to volatile security environments.
The army chief pledged continued investment in personnel training, equipment and welfare programmes. He also urged the soldiers to maintain discipline, professionalism and combat readiness.
Shaibu commended the Air Force Regiment Training Centre for its role in the exercise and reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to sustained collaboration with the service to tackle insecurity and protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
The Chief of Training at Army Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. VU Okoro, said the graduating class comprised five officers and 144 soldiers.
He described the ceremony as the culmination of an intensive training programme designed to improve physical endurance, tactical proficiency, mental resilience and operational effectiveness.
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Okoro said the Army operated in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous security environment that required highly trained, adaptable and mission-focused personnel.
He added that the course equipped troops with the knowledge and skills needed to confront emerging threats and carry out assigned missions.
The training covered physical conditioning, tactical skills, weapons proficiency, combat care and operational planning. The trainees also participated in Exercise FLUSH OUT, which tested their ability to apply the skills acquired during realistic field operations.
Okoro urged the graduates to view the exercise as the beginning of greater responsibilities, stressing the importance of military ethics, professionalism and the protection of civilians and fellow personnel.
He commended Shaibu for prioritising training and professional development, while also praising the Air Force training centre’s staff for their contribution to the exercise.
The Commander of the NAF Regiment Training Centre, Sqn. Ldr. EL Akpan, said 150 trainees enrolled in the programme, which began in July 2026.
Akpan said the course was designed to strengthen tactical competence, physical resilience, combat leadership and operational effectiveness through rigorous, realistic training.
The ceremony featured military drills and the presentation of prizes to outstanding graduates and senior military officers who contributed to the successful conduct of the exercise.
NAN
