COAS Deploys 600 Nigerian Army Troops to India for Jungle, Mountain Warfare Training
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has commenced the deployment of 600 Nigerian Army personnel to India for specialised jungle and mountain warfare training aimed at strengthening combat readiness and improving troops’ effectiveness in challenging operational environments.
The first batch of 300 personnel departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday, October 22, 2026, aboard two Indian Air Force aircraft—a C-17 and an Airbus A321.
The Coordinator of the Nigerian Military Training Support and Advisory Team at the Army Headquarters Department of Army Training, Major General UG Yusuf, who represented the COAS, witnessed the departure alongside the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria.
The initiative reflects Lieutenant General Shaibu’s commitment to developing a professional, adaptable and combat-ready Nigerian Army capable of confronting terrorists, insurgents and other criminal elements operating in forests, mountainous regions and other difficult terrains.
It also aligns with the COAS’s Command Philosophy, which emphasises operational effectiveness, realistic training, personnel development and improved combat readiness.
According to the Nigerian Army, the specialised training will equip personnel with advanced jungle and mountain warfare skills, enhance their operational manoeuvrability and strengthen their capacity to deny criminal groups safe havens in difficult terrains.
The programme is also expected to deepen defence cooperation between Nigeria and India while supporting efforts to build a resilient and mission-ready Army capable of defending the nation’s sovereignty and protecting lives and property.
Arrangements are ongoing to transport the remaining 300 personnel to India to complete the deployment for the specialised training.
