The Federal Government has introduced a specialized training program for elite military personnel, assembling 800 soldiers from the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
This initiative aims to enhance national security by equipping personnel with advanced skills to combat terrorism, insurgency, cyber threats, and transnational crimes.
The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar, officially launched the Special Operations Forces training on Monday at Camp Kabala in Jaji Military Cantonment, Kaduna. He emphasized that the program is designed to create a highly skilled, agile, and mission-ready force capable of executing specialized operations in complex environments.
“This Special Operations Force Training is a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing our operational effectiveness in combating terrorism, insurgency, transnational crimes, and other asymmetric threats that bedevil our great nation,” Abubakar stated.
He highlighted the need for an elite force capable of handling evolving security threats, adding, “This Special Operations Force will serve as a critical pillar in securing our national sovereignty, protecting citizens, and maintaining peace and stability within and beyond our borders.”
According to the minister, the training program will equip personnel with expertise in special combat tactics, counterterrorism operations, intelligence gathering, and hostage rescue missions.
“The program will prepare trainees for high-risk missions in both urban and hostile environments, ensuring they can adapt to dynamic threats. Given the inter-agency nature of modern security challenges, the training will foster seamless collaboration among personnel of the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, and other security agencies,” he added.
Abubakar further revealed that the 800 soldiers currently in training are only the first batch of a broader plan to train 2,400 elite forces, marking the beginning of a long-term strategy to develop a world-class special operations unit within the Armed Forces.
Speaking at the event, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, stressed the importance of the training in achieving “convergence”—a military concept referring to the synchronization of kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities for rapid, decisive action against threats.
“As we are all aware of the evolving dynamics of modern warfare and the unique challenges posed by asymmetric threats in our country, the situation demands that our forces be well-trained, equipped, and capable of responding swiftly, effectively, and decisively,” Musa said.
“It is in this context that the training of this Special Operations Force is highly desired, as they represent the cutting edge of our military’s ability to respond swiftly and decisively to threats, both within and beyond our borders.”
Musa expressed confidence that the Special Operations Force would play a vital role in defeating terrorism, insurgency, and other security threats.
“I am also impressed with the state-of-the-art training facility, which will no doubt enhance the efficient training of personnel of our armed forces. I want to, therefore, thank the Ministry of Defence for taking this bold step in ensuring today’s event comes to fruition. This will significantly add to the actualisation of my leadership concept of ‘nurturing a professional Armed Forces of Nigeria that is people-centric, capable of meeting its constitutional responsibilities in a joint and collaborative environment,’” he stated.
Addressing the newly recruited special forces, Musa commended their commitment, calling them “the vanguard of a new chapter in our defence narrative.”
“To the 800 gallant men of the Armed Forces of Nigeria who have availed themselves of this training after a detailed selection process, I commend your dedication and patriotism,” he said.
“I, therefore, urge each of you to embrace the challenges and responsibilities that lie ahead with an unwavering spirit. The training is going to be rigorous and tough, but with determination and the right mindset, you will scale through. You must be committed to the training as this program is designed to ensure that you are prepared for any operational scenario you will encounter in the field.”
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, who served as the Special Guest of Honour, praised the initiative as a crucial step toward fortifying Nigeria’s security framework. Represented by his deputy, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, the governor reaffirmed the government’s commitment to combating emerging threats.
“In today’s security environment, the threats we face keep evolving, from terrorism, insurgency, and banditry to cyber threats and transnational crimes. In response to these, we must equip our Armed Forces with the best training, cutting-edge tactics, and the resilience needed to overcome these challenges,” Sani said.
He described the Special Operations Forces training as a “bold step” toward developing elite troops who can defend Nigeria’s sovereignty with intelligence, precision, and courage.
“This training will also enable strategic thinking, decisive action, and leadership with honour,” he added.
The Special Operations Force is expected to be a game-changer in Nigeria’s fight against insecurity, reinforcing the country’s ability to respond swiftly to emerging threats and ensuring a more coordinated and effective security architecture.
