Army holds live-firing drill in Damaturu, asks residents to stay 800 metres away
- The Nigerian Army will hold a live-firing exercise at Damaturu Military Cantonment in Yobe State on Sunday.
- The drill runs from 8am to 5pm and the Army says it is routine training, not a security emergency.
- Farmers and nearby communities are asked to stay at least 800 metres from the training area.
The Nigerian Army is holding a live-firing exercise at the Damaturu Military Cantonment in Yobe State today, Sunday, November 1, and has asked people living nearby to keep their distance.
The training is scheduled to run from 8am to 5pm, according to a public notice signed by Lieutenant Abubakar Ibrahim, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations at the Headquarters of Sector 2 Joint Task Force.
The Army said the drill is part of its regular training and not a sign of any security incident. It said there is no cause for alarm.
Who needs to stay clear
People are asked to stay at least 800 metres away from the area where the firing will take place. The warning is aimed especially at farmers and residents of villages close to the cantonment, who may otherwise be working on their land during the exercise.
The Army said obeying the safety zone would protect residents and others in the area, and thanked the public for its usual cooperation.
For farmers around Damaturu, the notice means a day away from fields near the cantonment.
The Army did not say how long the training will last beyond today, or whether more exercises are planned.
What happens next
The exercise ends at 5pm. Residents should follow the 800-metre safety rule and any further instructions from security officials.