Doma, Nasarawa State — The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Friday graduated a Special Forces battalion from the Nigerian Army Special Forces School in Doma, strengthening the Army’s counter‑terrorism and internal security capabilities.
The new battalion will boost the Army’s ability to conduct specialised operations, operate in difficult terrain and dismantle terrorist and criminal networks. Lt‑Gen Shaibu said the Army’s expansion from eight to 12 divisions requires matching specialised capabilities to maintain operational readiness and extend security coverage nationwide. He warned that the force must be prepared to meet evolving threats, including the use of drones, improvised explosive devices and other emerging tactics.
Graduands completed six months of intensive training designed to improve combat proficiency, resilience and adaptability. The School now features the Army’s most challenging obstacle course — 20 obstacles in total — and its first maze, intended to help soldiers overcome fear of darkness and confined spaces while sharpening resilience and spatial orientation.
Lt‑Gen Shaibu called on the Special Forces personnel to uphold discipline, exercise sound judgment and respect human rights, stressing that tactical success must not undermine public confidence. He also urged intelligence‑led operations, technological awareness and close cooperation with sister services and other security agencies to achieve sustainable security outcomes.
Major General Valentine Okoro, Chief of Training (Army), said the course was tailored to contemporary operational demands and lessons from ongoing deployments. Brigadier General Umar Abubakar, Commandant of the Special Forces School, highlighted the graduands’ rigorous physical and tactical preparation. The COAS commended instructors and training partners for producing a highly trained, adaptable and mission‑ready force.
