The Nigerian Army has trained 604 Special Forces operatives in the eighth edition of ‘Exercise Restore Hope’ to strengthen national security.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the six-month specialist training covered both kinetic and non-kinetic operations. The Nigerian Army Military Training Centre in Kachia hosted the exercise, which aimed to equip the operatives for current security challenges.
During Tuesday’s graduation ceremony in Kaduna, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, praised the troops for mastering marksmanship, weapon handling, and precision targeting. Represented by Maj.-Gen. Mayirenso Saraso, the General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Oluyede acknowledged the troops’ display of coordination and concentrated firepower.
The Army selected the soldiers from various units and formations to enhance operational efficiency across different theatres of operation in Nigeria. Oluyede noted that the Army conducts this training twice a year as part of its regular calendar to equip personnel with specialized skills for combating security threats.
He explained that the training built on the soldiers’ basic military education and prepared them for mission-focused tasks. He emphasized that the deployment of these specially trained troops would significantly improve outcomes in ongoing field operations.
Oluyede concluded that the training plays a vital role in boosting the Army’s overall operational capacity and supporting national security efforts.
