Army begins special training for Boko Haram

The Nigerian Army on Friday commenced a nationwide special training programme on combating insurgency for its officers and men.

According to commandant of the Infantry Corps, Armed Forces Command and Staff College of the Nigerian Army, Jaji, Major-General Mohammed Abubakar, who was speaking at the inauguration of 1 Division Nigerian Army Headquarters Training School,
the training would improve the basic knowledge and skills of soldiers to enable them effectively curb insurgency.

He said the training schools have been in existence since the 70s, but they were only reopened to enable the army train the multitude of its soldiers.

“We have introduced different aspects of training as the existing schools cannot cope with the increasing number of soldiers we are recruiting,” he said.

“So we deem it necessary to re-establish these schools at each division to help us give basic training for soldiers instead of waiting until they get to training schools in Jaji, Bauchi, Kachia.”

The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division, Major-General Kenneth Osuji, said the schools would expand areas of training of soldiers and officers in each division.

“The establishment of these schools is going to provide the platform for more officers and soldiers to be trained,” he said.

“We have training schools, but we want as many soldiers to be trained because if we rely on the schools, it will take a longer time for the large number of soldiers and officers to be trained. We have to get the basic training on some specialised skills.”