Army to host 2017 small-arm shooting competition in Sambisa forest

Army to host 2017 small-arm shooting competition in Sambisa forest

Abdulkareem Haruna

The Nigeria army said it will be hosting the 2017 edition of its annual Small Arms Competition in the liberated Sambisa forest.

The Nigeria Army Small Arms Competition (NASAC) is a simulation drilling exercise aimed at horning up the marksmanship of soldiers.

Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman, made this known in a maiden 2017 press briefing hosted at the army headquarters Abuja on Tuesday.

He said following the defeat of Boko Haram in Sambisa forest, the army has decided to leverage on the fall of Camp Zairo, Boko Haram's erstwhile stronghold, to use the forest as its main training ground.

General Kukasheka who said this while appraising the 2016 achievements of the army, noted that the fall of Sambisa forest remains a major achievement for the Nigeria military.

"The fall of Boko Harram terrorists' Camp Zairo in Sambisa forest to our gallant troops have continued to attract commendation for the NA worldwide.

"We are going to consolidate on these gains, therefore Nigerian Army will not rest on its oars in 2017. We will continue to accord high priority to training, regimentation and welfare of the troops.

"The COAS have directed that next Nigerian Army Small Arms Competition (NASAC) 2017 would be conducted at Sambisa forest. Already, effort are on by the NA Engineers to open more routes and construct bridges into the once Boko Haram haven to facilitate easy access to the forest.

He said it was part of the military strategy to box up Boko Haram into Sambisa forest before launching the final assault on them in November 2016.

"In the North east, the remnants of Boko Haram Terrorists were pushed into Sambisa forest during Operation CRACK DOWN which was conducted from 26 April to 17 May 2016", he said.

"Those terrorists holed up in Sambisa forest were further defeated during the Operation RESCUE FINALE which penetrated deep into Sambisa forest and dislodged the terrorists from their Headquarters in Parisu and "Camp Zairo".

He said the army is being buoyed by the presidential commendation over the fall of Sambisa forest to consolidate on the gains of 2016.

He said the army is reviewing its 2016 campaingns acrosss the country so as to enable it project its plans for year 2017 with a view to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria.

"The Nigerian Army last year conducted many training activities at all levels, this is in addition to other training exercises conducted by the various Nigerian Army training institutions across the country. Some of the major exercises include; Exercise SHIRIN HARBI and Exercise HARBIN KUNAMA. The exercises were apart from improving troops proficiency, testing of equipment, they also sought to address the prevailing security challenges in Bauchi and Zamfara States. The exercises were tremendous success.

"The continuous raid operations and patrols conducted by troops have seriously reduced these activities and resulted in the arrests of a large number of cattle rustlers and recovery of arms, ammunitions and rustled cattle.

"Additionally, as part of deliberate efforts to clear the region of the menace of cattle rustling and armed banditry, Exercise HARBIN KUNAMA conducted at Dansadau Forest, Zamfara State as part of the Nigerian Army Day Celebration 2016. The exercise has further helped in reducing the menace posed by bandits and cattle rustlers in the state and its environs.

"About 9,865 rustled cattle were recovered and handed over to the owners through local civil authority. Many armed bandits and livestock rustlers were also arrested during the operation. It is believed that the menace of the criminal gangs and bandits in the North Central and North West zones of the country would be reduced to the barest minimum due to such field training exercises.

"Furthermore, the increasing violent activities of militants, pirates and militia groups across the Niger Delta Region coupled with the agitation from secessionist groups in some parts of South East Nigeria re-emphasised the need for continuous training. Accordingly, the COAS directed the conduct of a Field Training Exercise in the Niger Delta Region. The exercise nicknamed "Exercise CROCODILE SMILE" was conducted from 5 – 10 September 2016. The main objective of Exercise CROCODILE SMILE was to sharpen the skills of Nigerian Army personnel to be proficient in Internal Security duties in riverine operations. The NA also conducted Exercise PYTHON DANCE in the South East Region from 28 November – 27 December 2016 to further enhance the capacity of NA troops deployed in the region to cope with contemporary security challenges within the region.