Insecurity: Nigerian Army Deploys 600 Soldiers to India for Elite Jungle, Mountain Warfare Training
ABUJA, Nigeria — In a bid to combat insurgency in difficult terrains, the Nigerian Army has commenced the deployment of 600 personnel to India for specialized jungle and mountain warfare training.
The first batch of 300 soldiers departed from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
The troops were airlifted aboard two Indian Air Force aircraft, a C-17 Globemaster and an Airbus A321.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, was represented at the departure ceremony by Major General UG Yusuf, the Coordinator of the Nigerian Military Training Support and Advisory Team.
The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria also witnessed the departure, underscoring the deep-rooted defense partnership between the two nations.
According to a statement released on October 23, 2026, by Colonel Appolonia Anele, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, arrangements are already underway to airlift the remaining 300 personnel to India to complete the specialized contingent.
Crushing Insurgency in Challenging Terrains
The intensive training initiative aligns directly with the COAS’s Command Philosophy, which prioritizes operational effectiveness, realistic training, and enhanced combat readiness.
The specialized foreign programme is designed to equip personnel with advanced technical skills tailored specifically for jungle and mountain warfare.
Nigerian troops who have been battling insurgency and bandits in the arid and rocky parts of the north will significantly improve their tactical maneuverability in thick forests and rugged mountainous regions where terrorists and criminal elements often set up safe havens.
Officials are expecting the strategic skills upgrade will strengthen Nigeria’s territorial integrity by bolstering the army’s capacity to protect lives and property in volatile zones.
It follows a series of deliberate force expansions and capability updates aimed at shifting the military from conventional tactics to highly adaptable, asymmetric warfare strategies to permanently deny criminals a foothold on Nigerian soil.
Ebidowei Preye is a Nigeria-based security correspondent for Klick News, covering insurgency, national security, oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism, and other security-related developments across the country.
