Olaleye Aluko, Abjuja
The Nigerian Air Force says it has commenced the training of 450 “carefully selected” regiment personnel as Special Forces.
NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, who stated this in a statement on Monday in Abuja, explained that the training would be conducted in three batches.
“Training for the first batch, comprising 150 personnel, took off last weekend at the NAF Regiment Training Centre in Kaduna,” he said.
Adesanya said the training was being handled by ‘FOUR-TROOP’, a reputable foreign military training organisation from Israel.
He explained that the training would develop the capacity of the personnel to fight under all types of terrains and weather conditions.
“At the end of the nine-week training, successful participants will be deployed to defend NAF air assets and bases, as well as critical national infrastructure and assets.
“The Special Forces will also be required to take the battle to the adversaries, whenever necessary,” he said.
Adesanya quoted the Air Officer Commanding, Ground Training Command, Air Vice-Marshal Samson Akpasa, who inaugurated the training, as saying the exercise became necessary to ensure a robust counter-force against insurgencies.
Akpasa stated that the counter-force had become necessary in view of threats to security by insurgents, militants, oil thieves, cattle rustlers and kidnappers.
“As conflicts become more complex and diverse, a force multiplier unit such as the Special Forces will enable us to gain an upper hand in tactical battles,” he said.
Akpasa commended the foreign partners, especially ‘FOUR TROOP, for accepting to conduct the training in Nigeria.
The Commandant of NAF Regiment Training Centre, Group Captain Isaac Subi, who also spoke at the ceremony, said the NAF Regiment Specialty was a blend of the Army Infantry and Artillery Corps.
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