American forces have intensified military training for Nigerian troops in Bauchi, with unmanned aircraft systems, battlefield medical care, explosives and small-unit tactics among the skills being passed on.
The fresh training is part of an expanding US-Nigeria security partnership aimed at sharpening the operational readiness of Nigerian forces and improving their ability to confront the country’s complex security threats.
According to AFRICOM, the exercises are designed not only to transfer military expertise but also to strengthen cooperation and interoperability between the two countries’ armed forces.
Among the areas covered are Combat Lifesaver and Tactical Combat Casualty Care, weapons familiarisation, camouflage, water treatment and testing, explosive ordnance disposal, small-unit tactics and unmanned aircraft systems.
But it was the drone training that appeared to generate particular excitement among the Nigerian personnel.
US Army Sgt. Mark Murphy, an intelligence analyst with the 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, led about 10 members of the Nigerian Air Force Special Forces Regiment through practical lessons on operating unmanned aircraft.
The Nigerian troops first received classroom instruction before moving on to hands-on exercises, where they learnt how to operate the aircraft and use information gathered by the systems to support military operations.
Murphy said the Nigerian personnel were enthusiastic about the practical session and expressed interest in receiving more training.
The US military said the training programme was not based on a rigid curriculum. Instead, American units present their areas of expertise to Nigerian commanders, who then identify the skills they consider most useful.
Capt. Gabriel Feingold, a logistics officer assigned to the US Army Southern European Task Force, Africa and operations officer at OL Bauchi, said the approach allows Nigerian commanders to determine what their troops need most.
The training comes at a critical time for Nigeria, which continues to battle terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes across several regions.
The US has already provided significant counterterrorism support to Nigeria. In May, AFRICOM announced that American and Nigerian forces conducted coordinated strikes against ISIS elements in northeastern Nigeria.
AFRICOM said the operation targeted ISIS militants and was carried out in coordination with the Nigerian government.
The latest Bauchi programme therefore goes beyond classroom lessons, with the Americans also sharing intelligence, operational experience and professional expertise with their Nigerian counterparts.
AFRICOM said the partnership is intended to build long-term Nigerian capacity rather than simply provide short-term assistance.
The US military’s latest disclosure also shows that the American security relationship with Nigeria remains active despite changes in the nature of the US military presence in the country.
The joint exercises have also provided opportunities for personnel from both sides to interact outside formal training. AFRICOM said American and Nigerian troops sometimes play basketball and volleyball when their operational schedules and weather conditions allow.
Feingold said such informal interactions were important because they helped build trust between troops at the lower levels of the two militaries.
The Americans and Nigerians are expected to continue developing additional training programmes at the Bauchi operating location, with both sides identifying new areas where their expertise can be combined.
AFRICOM said the broader objective is to improve military capability, readiness and interoperability while strengthening the long-term security partnership between Washington and Abuja.
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