By Ola Kay
In an effort to strengthen security within the Federal Capital Territory and its surrounding border communities, the Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army has concluded a two-day Field Training drill entered on ambush and anti-ambush operations.
The training held at General O. A. Azazi Barracks, Gwagwalada, and along the Rafin Zurfi–Ibua axis, was designed to improve onthe tactical readiness of troops in responding swiftly to security threats within the nation’s capital and neighbouring states.
A statement on Wednesday by the Brigade’s spokesperson, Odunola Olawuyi noted that the Commander, Brigadier General Adebisi Onasanya, stated that the initiative aligned with the training directives of the Army Headquarters and reflected the Chief of Army Staff’s commitment to continuous, realistic training for troops across formations.
The Commander noted that the exercise was not just a routine drill but a deliberate effort to improve troops’ field efficiency and their ability to counter emerging threats.
Brigadier General Onasanya stated that the training would better position soldiers to respond to scenarios such as ambushes, surprise attacks, and other asymmetric warfare tactics often employed by non-state actors in the FCT’s outskirts and neighbouring Niger and Nasarawa States.
“The Commander highlighted the importance of the training exercise in line with training directives of the Army Headquarters. He further noted that the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has made training a vital component of his Command Philosophy to enhance operational efficiency and to meet the demands of modern warfare.
“He explained that the FTX was designed to equip troops with the requisite knowledge and practical skills needed to tackle emerging security threats within the Federal Capital Territory and parts of Niger and Nasarawa States, ” the statement emphasized.
According to Olawuyi, the exercise featured lectures and practical drills, including tactical deployment, engagement manoeuvres, and counter-ambush responses.
“During the field phase, soldiers demonstrated their ability to react to enemy contact, neutralise threats, and conduct immediate rescue operations under simulated combat conditions, ” she added.
The statement also informed that the Guards Brigade responsible for securing the FCT, critical national assets, and the Presidential Villa—has, in recent months, intensified its field operations and simulation exercises.
The training drive underscores the Army’s broader strategy to fortify Abuja and its environs against the growing threats of banditry and insurgent activities extending from the North-Central corridor, apart from helping them to maintain high alertness levels and ensure the continued safety of Nigeria’s seat of power.
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