The Nigerian Army has reiterated the need for intensified training to enhance operational effectiveness and sustain battlefield readiness across all formations.

The Director, Support Services, Defence Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Isiaka Olatunji, said this at the opening of the 2026 Guards Brigade Corporals and Below Competition on Monday in Abuja.

Olatunji said training remained the backbone of military efficiency, stressing that no army could succeed in contemporary security operations without continuous skill development and rigorous field exercises.

He explained that the competition was designed to test the physical, mental and tactical proficiency of junior soldiers who form the backbone of operational execution within the Nigerian Army.

He said “we must train harder to ensure operational effectiveness. Training is not optional; it is essential for survival and success on the battlefield.”

According to him, corporals and below represent the category of personnel who directly execute missions in the field, often in close contact with adversaries.

“You are the ones who execute missions. You come face to face with the enemy at the tactical level,” he added.

The director noted that the exercise would strengthen resilience, discipline, teamwork and combat readiness among participating troops.

He said the Guards Brigade, known for its ceremonial and operational responsibilities in the Federal Capital Territory, remained a critical formation in the defence architecture of the country.

Olatunji urged participants to embrace the training opportunities provided by the competition, describing excellence as “a product of continuous challenge and discipline.”

He also charged troops to uphold professionalism and demonstrate a high level of competence throughout the exercise.

On his part, the Commander, Guards Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Adebisi Onasanya, said “the competition aligns with the Chief of Army Staff’s vision of building a more adaptive, resilient and combat-ready force.”

Onasanya said the exercise would assess weapon handling skills, physical fitness and decision-making abilities of participants.

He added that the outcome of the competition would contribute significantly to determining troop readiness for operational deployments.

The annual Guards Brigade Corporals and Below Competition brings together units for intensive drills and tactical exercises, aimed at improving efficiency and professionalism within the Nigerian Army.

Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, academics and other security professionals have advocated transition from heavy reliance on physical personnel to technology innovation in tackling insecurity in the country.

They stated the position in Abuja on Monday, at an event to celebrate Peter Olumuji, who bagged a Doctors of Philosophy (PhD) in Security and Strategic Studies, from Nasarawa State University, Keffi.

Olumuji is the Secretary of the FCT Administration Command and Control Centre.

The centre was established to improve security in the FCT by collating and analysing security intelligence feeds from drones, Closed-Circuit Television cameras and other technological devices.

The IGP, who chaired the event, said academic certification was crucial for modern security personnel and urged officers to get certified for the specialised roles they perform.

He commended Olumuji, fondly called “Mr Sharp Sharp”, for always getting any job assigned to him done with speed.

“He is a paragon of honesty and professional persistence. Whenever there is a task, he stays on your neck to ensure it is completed.

“I learned this from him: start a job, put a plan to it, and follow it to the end,” he said.

The Vice-Chancellor of Bingham University, Prof. Haruna Ayuba, who supervised Olumuji’s thesis, said that the security and strategic studies programme was vital to winning the war against insecurity.

Ayuba said, “Training experts at this level is now essential to nip security challenges in the bud”.

He praised the celebrant’s dedication to genuine learning saying; “while some students wanted to get a degree by any means, Olumuji was ready to learn.

“We didn’t just work together; we published research papers together,” Ayuba noted.

Similarly, Dr Stephen Okore of the Nigerian Army University, Biu, stressed the need for professionalism in security agencies to ensure competency in tackling insecurity.

Okore described Olumuji as a “gentleman and a good leader” who served as their class governor throughout their master’s and PhD programmes.

On his part, Adamu Gwary, Director of the FCTA Security Services Department, said that Olumuji’s academic achievement was the outcome of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s transformation of the FCT security architecture.

Gwary noted that the department was being increasingly populated by holders of PhD, which he said would inject logical thinking in tackling security challenges in the FCT.

“This means that security matters will be handled with innovative responsiveness.

“With the current security situation, this intellectual capacity will ensure that the security department provides the needed expertise in tackling insecurity,” he said.

Responding, Olumuji said that his doctoral research underscored the need for a critical shift in Nigeria’s security strategy.

He emphasised the need for the transition from heavy reliance on physical personnel to the integration of advanced technology.

“By introducing more technology, we reduce the reliance on manpower.

“This is more effective in saving the lives of our gallant men and women in the military and law enforcement, who face risks in the field,” he said.

The Nigerian Army said troops recorded major operational gains, including interception of suspected logistics supplies, foiling terrorist attacks and rescuing kidnapped victims across theatres in the last 24 hours.

Operational report on Monday, revealed that troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) intercepted a truck conveying large quantities of medical supplies suspected to be meant for terrorist elements in the North-East.

The report said the interception occurred at a checkpoint in Nguru, Yobe, where the driver initially presented a waybill for beverages and household items.

According to the report, a detailed search revealed hundreds of cartons of drugs, including antibiotics, injections, bandages and other medical items.

The report said the driver and three occupants were apprehended, adding that the suspect later confessed the consignment was bound for the Republic of Chad through Geidam.

“In a related development, troops arrested a suspected ISWAP/JAS terrorist in Ngamdu, Borno, who confessed he was sent from Jilli to procure food items for insurgents.

“The suspect disclosed that terrorists were currently converging around Gubio and Magumeri areas.

“Troops also arrested two suspected terrorist collaborators in Monguno, who were allegedly facilitating movement of a terrorist’s family members.

“Items recovered from them included mobile phones, cash and other personal effects, while a woman and her three children linked to a terrorist kingpin were later apprehended,” the report said.

It also revealed that troops foiled an attempted infiltration by terrorists in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno.

The report added that troops engaged the insurgents during an ambush, forcing them to flee and abandoning weapons and other items, adding that follow-up operations led to rescue of three kidnapped victims from a terrorist enclave.

“In Bama Local Government Area, troops destroyed a terrorist camp during clearance operations, forcing insurgents to withdraw under pressure.

“Similarly, troops of Operation Safe Haven recovered weapons from suspects during stop-and-search operations in Plateau.

“They also arrested a suspected gunrunner and rescued additional kidnapped victims in Bauchi following exploitation of earlier airstrikes.

“In the Federal Capital Territory, troops conducting anti-illegal mining operations raided a site in Gwagwalada, recovering mining equipment, while suspects fled,” it added.

In the Southern part of the country, the report said troops of Operation Delta Safe responded to a communal clash in Delta, restoring normalcy after one person was killed.

It said troops also intensified anti-illegal bunkering operations in Rivers, destroying illegal refining sites and recovering large volumes of stolen crude oil and refined products.

Military authorities reiterated their commitment to sustaining offensive operations, disrupting logistics networks and ensuring security across the country.