589 soldiers graduate pre-deployment training for North East mission

The Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC) in Kontagora has graduated 589 soldiers from its Pre-Deployment Training Batch One.

These troops are now set for deployment with the Joint Task Force North East under OPERATION HADIN KAI.

Presided over by the NATRAC Commander, Major General A.G.L. Haruna, the graduation ceremony took place Friday at the Kontagora Military Cantonment Parade Ground.

The soldiers, who began training on January 12, 2026, completed an intensive four-week program focused on Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Insurgency operations specific to the North East theatre.

Major General Haruna stated the personnel were part of Phase One of the Nigerian Army Rotation Plan 2026.

He explained that the training, conducted day and night to simulate real combat scenarios, covered a comprehensive range of critical skills.

These included physical fitness, marksmanship, convoy drills, counter-ambush tactics, house clearance, patrol techniques, tactical medical evacuation, counter-IED operations, mountain warfare, and hostage rescue.

The Commander emphasized that the program was designed with battlefield realism, aligning with the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General W. Shaibu’s command philosophy to build a more professional, adaptable, and combat-ready force.

He expressed confidence that the new tactics and procedures mastered by the troops have prepared them fully for their operational tasks.

“The training you have undergone has equipped you with the requisite skills to confront contemporary security threats wherever you may be deployed,” Haruna said.

He charged the soldiers to apply their lessons, uphold professionalism, and demonstrate courage and unity in defending Nigeria’s sovereignty.

The Commander also commended the Chief of Army Staff for his support and praised the dedication of the officers and instructors.

The ceremony featured displays of unarmed combat and a tug-of-war competition by the trainees, followed by group photographs. It was attended by senior military officers, instructors, and other stakeholders.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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