The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it has intensified efforts to strengthen ongoing military operations against bandits and terrorists in Bauchi, Plateau, and other volatile northern states through specialised counter-improvised explosive device (IED) training for its Special Forces personnel. The training, conducted by the NAF Regiment Training Centre Annex (RTCA) in Bauchi, in collaboration with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit of the Nigeria Police Force Bauchi State Command, focused on improving the operational readiness of trainees under Special Forces Course 13/2026.
- +Air force taps police expertise to neutralise explosive threats
- +Enhanced situational awareness in complex environments
- +Practical exposure to explosive threat indicators
The exercise centred on the identification, detection, and safe handling of IEDs, which have become a primary weapon used by insurgents and armed groups during attacks and ambushes across the Northeast and North-Central regions.
The exercise centred on the identification, detection, and safe handling of IEDs, which have become a primary weapon used by insurgents and armed groups during attacks and ambushes across the Northeast and North-Central regions.
Enhanced situational awareness in complex environments
Speaking during the exercise, which concluded over the weekend in Bauchi, RTCA Bauchi Commandant Lawrence Akpan said the programme was designed to enhance the situational awareness, force protection capability, and combat effectiveness of trainees in complex operational environments.
Akpan, a squadron leader, noted that the training aligned with the centre’s mandate of producing resilient and mission-ready Special Forces personnel capable of operating effectively in volatile theatres.
He explained that the exercise would equip personnel with the tactical knowledge required to detect and respond safely to explosive threats during operations. According to the commandant, Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke has continued to prioritise realistic training and operational adaptability to ensure NAF personnel remain proactive and dominant in counter-terrorism and special operations across the country.
Practical exposure to explosive threat indicators
During practical sessions, trainees were exposed to various forms of IEDs, threat indicators, and combat safety procedures. The police EOD team also demonstrated how pressure-plate IEDs are detonated and educated participants on the major components of explosive devices, including initiators, charges, power sources, containers, and switch mechanisms.
Security observers believe the training will improve the capacity of troops to neutralise explosive threats during patrols, clearance operations, and tactical missions in conflict-prone areas. The exercise further underscored growing collaboration between the military and the police in strengthening Nigeria’s security response against insurgency, terrorism, and other asymmetric threats.
