Army sends first 300 of 600 soldiers to India for jungle warfare training

Di Nigerian Army don start to send 600 of im soldiers go India for training for jungle and mountain warfare, starting with first group of 300.

Dat first batch leave Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport for Abuja on Thursday, 22 October 2026, inside two Indian Air Force aircraft, a C-17 and an Airbus A321, di Army talk for statement on Friday.

Di Army acting director of public relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, talk say di remaining 300 soldiers still dey arrange for airlift go India.

Why e matter

Plenty of Nigeria security trouble dey happen for places wey hard to reach: forests where bandits and kidnappers dey camp, and hilly areas where insurgents and armed groups dey move freely. Di Army talk say dis training mean to make im troops better at fighting for exactly dose kind of terrain.

According to Anele, di goal na to build force wey go fit take on terrorists, insurgents and other criminal elements wey dey operate for forests, mountains and other difficult environments, and to stop dem from finding safe hiding places.

Di Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, represent for di airport by Major General UG Yusuf, coordinator of di Nigerian Military Training Support and Advisory Team at Army Headquarters. Di Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria also dey there to see di soldiers off.

Di Army talk say di exercise go smoothly and di programme also strengthen defence ties between Nigeria and India.

E no clear from di statements how long di training go last or how much e cost.

Wetin happen next

Di Army talk say plans dey in progress to fly out di second group of 300 soldiers. Once both batches dey India, di full 600 go dey undergo di specialised course.