Spokesperson of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Asesanya, says the force has commenced the training of 450 ”carefully selected” regiment personnel as Special Forces.
In a statement on Monday, he explained that the training would be conducted in three batches.
”Training for the first batch, comprising 150 personnel, took off this weekend at the NAF Regiment Training Centre in Kaduna,” he said.
Adesanya said that the training was being handled by ‘FOUR-TROOP’, a reputable foreign military training organisation from Israel.
The army spokesperson said 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 AVM Samson Akpasa, the Air Officer Commanding, Ground Training Command, who inaugurated the training exercise, as saying that the exercise became necessary to ensure a robust counter-force to respond to insurgencies.
He further quoted Akpasa as saying 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 gain an upper hand in tactical battles,” the official also noted.
