Army to Train 3000 Soldiers on Counter-terrorism

Defence Headquarters

 

The Nigerian Army has disclosed that over 3000 soldiers would undergo further six weeks training on Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency (CT COIN), aimed at transforming them into efficient and effective force able to meet the contemporary security challenges within and outside the country.
The Chief of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Brig-Gen. Ibrahim Atahiru stated this yesterday during the monthly press briefing on activities of the Nigerian Army during the period under review.

Atahiru said that the aim of the Army under the leadership of current Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika was to enhance the operational capacity of the military personnel to handle modern conflict, which was fast tilting away from the conventional warfare.

He said: "The 69 Regular Recruits Intake that passed out from Depot NA on Friday June 1n 2013 are reporting for further CT-COIN in four different NA training institutions.

"This is in pursuance of the COAS vision, which is 'to transform the Nigerian Army into a force better able to meet the contemporary challenges".

"The soldiers training, which is expected to last for six weeks would cover aspects of house breaking and clearing, urban patrol, unarmed combat, skill at arms, international humanitarian laws amongst others. A total of 3000 will be trained", he added.

To further achieve the transformation, the DAPR announced that the Army has reviewed its recruitment procedure to include pre-screening examinations for recruitment and that the first 500 successful candidates would be spread amongst the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

In this regard, he revealed that Army Headquarters (AHQ) has procured a new. Marking machines to enhance the subsequent recruitment exercise starting with the 70 Regular Recruitment Intake examination on Saturday, June 22,2013.

"All candidates that applied are advised to report to the examination centres in various states, including the FCT. The pre-screening exercise is aimed at selecting the best personnel for NA and thereby enhancing its manpower level and combat efficiency.

"After the examination, the first 500 candidates that passed would be selected from each state of the federation including FCT for final zonal screening from July 22, 2013 at two centre in each geo-political zones. Thereafter, the final list of successful candidates would be published in NA Recruitment website www.narecruitment.org", he explained.

In a related development, the Army Spokesman warned both members of the public and particularly foreign media against believing one 'Major Yahaya Shinko (rtd.), who has been on air disparaging the military activities in the North East.

He described Shinko as an impostor who never attained the rank of Major in the Nigerian Army but was rather dismissed for disciplinary issues.

"The attention of this Headquarters has been drawn to an impostor who claimed to be one Major Yahaya Shinko (rtd.)...parading himself a retired Major and security expert in some international media.

"He had also been discussing the ongoing State of Emergency and military operations in the North Eastern part of the country with some select international media. Please be informed that the officer was reduced to Second Lieutenant on disciplinary ground for Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL) and was subsequently retired from service in 1999 for service no longer required".

"Judging from the circumstances under which the officer left the service, no in-depth analysis and sound judgement on any military operation could come out from such an inexperienced officer", he added.