The Nigerian Army has trained 106 Cadet Officers of the 69 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in mechanised operations to address the country’s security challenges.
The Commandant, NDA, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Yusuf, said this during the closing ceremony of the training at Victor Kure Armoured Range in Bauchi on Thursday.
Yusuf said the week-long training tagged: “Exercise Battle Crime,” was to expose them to various mechanised operations in tackling insecurity.
“This exercise here today is the final phase of mechanised operations which is the phase four of the cadets.
“The objective of the exercise is to expose the cadets to mechanised operations in order to prepare them in dealing with the current security threats,” he said.
Yusuf said that the cadets would be graduating from the Academy in October, adding that there were seven female officers among them.
He said that the training was in collaboration with the Armoured Corps, the Corps of Artillery and the Special Operations Command of the Nigerian Air Force.
Yusuf said before the training, the Cadets were at the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering, Makurdi, where they participated in an assault river crossing operations across River Benue.
He added that they moved from there to the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, Jos, Plateau State, where they went through the adventure phase of their training.
He commended the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, for his resolve in making the training possible.
“All these couldn’t have been possible without the overwhelming support from the Chief of Army Staff. All the tanks, the Artillery guns that took part in this operation were courtesy of the CAOS.
“We appreciate the Army Headquarters for this outstanding support and I also want to appreciate the Chief of Air Staff that has authorised the Air Force to provide close air support during this phase of the operation,” he said.
Also speaking, the Commander, Armoured Corps, Maj.-Gen. Suleiman Idris, disclosed that it was the first time the NDA Cadets would be coming to Bauchi State for this kind of training.
Idris noted that the training was apt due to the security challenge in the country.
“This is because when you are giving training to Cadets that are going to become officers who will be leading men to war, it is ideal to expose them to this kind of exercise,” he said.
Also, one of the trainees, Officer Cadet Maryam Wawu, described the training as an eye opener.
Wawu said it had broadened their knowledge on how effective the Nigerian Army could be in tackling insecurity.
She also said the training had strengthened synergy between the combat arms, Combat Service Support Arms and sister services, especially the Nigerian Air Force.