COAS Sharpens Army’s Combat Edge, Deploys 600 Troops to India for Specialised Training
The Nigerian Army says the specialised training will sharpen troops’ combat skills and enhance operations in difficult terrains.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has commenced the deployment of 600 Nigerian Army personnel to India for specialised jungle and mountain warfare training aimed at strengthening combat readiness and improving the military’s capacity to tackle security threats in challenging terrains.
The first batch of 300 soldiers departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday, October 22, 2026, aboard two Indian Air Force aircraft—a C-17 military transport aircraft and an Airbus A321.
The Coordinator of the Nigerian Military Training Support and Advisory Team at the Army Headquarters Department of Army Training, Major General UG Yusuf, who represented the COAS, witnessed the departure alongside the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria.
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According to a statement issued on Friday by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the initiative reflects Shaibu’s commitment to developing a professional, adaptable and combat-ready force capable of confronting terrorists, insurgents and other criminal elements operating in forests, mountainous regions and other difficult environments.
The training aligns with the COAS’s command philosophy, which prioritises operational effectiveness, realistic training, personnel development and enhanced combat readiness.
The specialised programme is expected to equip the participating soldiers with advanced jungle and mountain warfare skills, improve their operational manoeuvrability and strengthen their ability to pursue hostile elements and deny them safe havens in difficult terrains.
The initiative also underscores ongoing Nigeria–India defence cooperation, particularly in military training and capacity development, as the Nigerian Army seeks to build a more resilient and mission-ready force capable of defending the country’s territorial integrity.
Arrangements are underway to airlift the remaining 300 personnel to India to complete the deployment.
The training comes amid the Nigerian military’s sustained efforts to enhance the operational capabilities of its personnel in confronting evolving security threats across the country, particularly in areas where difficult terrain presents additional challenges to ground operations.
