BY PHILIP NWOSU
The British Military Advisory Training Team (BMATT) has donated a state-of-the-art Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency Training Village to the 81 Division Nigerian Army (NA) Training School (DTS) in Owode, Ogun State. The facility, designed to enhance practical training in counterterrorism and counter insurgency operations, was commissioned on Wednesday.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, represented by the Chief of Training (Army), Major General Sani Mohammed, praised the longstanding collaboration between the Nigerian Army and BMATT. He noted that joint training efforts, such as Counter Improvised Explosive Device (IED) handling, Special Forces, and Basic Infantry training, have yielded positive results.
Major General Mohammed expressed optimism that the new facility would further modernize training methods and improve operational readiness.
British Deputy High Commissioner to Lagos, Mr. Jonny Baxter, also addressed attendees, highlighting the UK’s commitment to enhancing Nigeria’s counterterrorism capacity. He emphasized that the training village would prepare troops for deployment in Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency (CTCOIN) operations.
Brigadier General OB Davies, the 81 Division Training Officer, described the training village as a critical tool for enhancing the professionalism of troops. He detailed that the facility, consisting of seven buildings, accommodation areas, a training ground, market simulation, and perimeter fencing, would provide practical, real-world experiences to complement classroom instruction.
The event, attended by senior military officers including Major General Farouk Umar Mijinyawa, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, and Brigadier Martin Leach of the UK Ministry of Defence, featured a demonstration drill by DTS students, the presentation of souvenirs, and group photographs to mark the occasion.
The Defence Headquarters ( DHQ), in collaboration with the British Military Advisory Training Team (BMATT), had early this years initiated a 5-day training program, with the theme, “Managing Defence in a Wider Security Context.”