The Joint Military Force deployed to protect oil installations in the Niger Delta on Saturday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State concluded arms handling training designed to enhance precision of troops. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the one month shooting and marksmanship exercise came to a climax with an inter-sector arms competition amongst the four sectors of the force based in the region.
Sector 3 of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, christened: Operation Delta Safe, won the gold trophy, Sector 2 clinched silver trophy, while Sector 1 went home with the bronze trophy. Speaking at the event, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, who was the Special guest, reiterated that the performance of the military depends largely on their skills, which should be enhanced through training.
Dickson, who spoke though his deputy, retired Rear Admiral John Jonah, advocated for the sustenance of the culture of periodic training of members of the armed forces in order to help them overcome the security challenges facing the country. He noted that the Niger Delta environment, which consists of creeks, swamps, rivers with settlements along the Atlantic coastline, was a very difficult terrain for military operations.
He however noted that the challenging terrain was a blessing in disguise as it provides a suitable environment for military training. The Commander of the Joint Force, Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi, in his opening remarks, noted that the training was designed to enhance the combat readiness of the troops in view of the enormous risks they face.
Apochi said: “The need for training cannot be over emphasised, more so due to the composition of the force with personnel across the services of the military.
“It is also to make the personnel from different services work as a team. “The training is to make the personnel more proficient and increase their precision to defend themselves when under attack and to defend the citizens and oil infrastructure.”
NAN reports that heads of the various military formations operating in Bayelsa State attended the ceremony, which held at the Nigerian Army Shooting Range, Elele Barracks, Rivers.
