Countering unconventional warfare in the 21st century requires an asymmetry approach and combat readiness in dealing and eliminating insurgency. MUSA UMAR BOLOGI looks at efforts of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai at positioning the Nigerian Army as a force always at alert to withstand both internal and external aggressions.
In the military training and re-training of personnel is prerequisite for an efficient work force, both in peace time and period of crisis. It is even more pertinent in the present century where terrorism has become a phenomenon across the world, with its unconventional methods of launching attacks against civil populace.
To restrain the present century terrorism, therefore, a country’s army must always be combat ready and familiar with the insurgents’ tactics and techniques, as well as modern technology in warfare.
It is on this basis, and in line with his vision of a “professionally trained army in the discharge of its constitutional role”, that the COAS, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai focuses on training of troops and officers in dealing with challenges of insurgency facing the country.
The COAS established the Nigerian Army Special Training School, Buni yadi, Yobe state, to train troops deployed to the theater of war in the North East.
The school, which was initially located in Kontagora, Niger State, was sited in Buni yadi in order to expose the troops to the terrain of the insurgents before launching on operation.
The school also provides specialised and in-theater training for soldiers and officers to be deployed to Operation Lafiya Dole, in the North East, according to the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman.
While giving an insight to the nature of the troops, during his visit to the school last week, the COAS said they are called ‘Special Forces’ because of the distinctive skills they have acquired during their training, which has made them “more resilient, and able to withstand whatever challenges they might face while on operation.”
He said the school was sited at Buni Yadi because of its historical and strategic significance.
It would be called that on February, 25, 2014, Boko Haram terrorists killed 59 boarding students when they attacked the Federal Government College, Buni yadi.
“The insurgents also want to dislodge anybody staying here because it is strategic to them,” the Army Chief said.
“This is the route they pass to other parts of the North East…and up to Plateau in the North central. So, it is better for us that we have dominated the place and have taken over.”
In his addressing to the troops, COAS charged them to maintain the momentum in the fight against the insurgents, as the Operation Lafiya Dole has reached a critical stage.
“This training school has come to stay. It will continue to train our officers and men in order to make sure that they are fully prepared before they are launched on operation,” he said. “While on training here you must ensure that you do it the proper way. You must apply the tactics and strategies you are taught here, when you are launched on the field.”
Apart from troops’ training in Buni yadi, the army has recently trained troops fighting armed bandits and cattle rustlers in the North West, under Operation Harbin Kunama, in Dan sadau, Zamfara state.
Similarly training will soon commence in the South South region with the launching of a new operation code named ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’. The COAS disclosed recently in Maiduguri that the operation is aimed at training troops in amphibious and riverine operations, and check criminal activities like kidnappings, piracy, and vandalism in the region,
Apart from training for field operations, the Nigerian Army has also conducted several raining for its various arms. Just recently the army organised a two-day Combat Support Arms Training, at the Maimalari cantonment, Maiduguri for officers.
