The Nigerian Army graduated 1,182 Special Forces soldiers Friday at Kachia, Kaduna State, to reinforce newly established divisions nationwide.

The troops completed the 10th Advanced Infantry Training Programme, Exercise Restore Hope X, after six months of intensive training at the Nigerian Army Training Centre in Kachia.

Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu presided over the graduation ceremony.

“Following the approval of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the restructuring of the Nigerian Army, additional divisions, formations and units have been established to optimise force disposition and improve operational responsiveness to the nation’s evolving security threats,” Shaibu said.

Most of the new graduates won’t be filling old vacancies. Shaibu said many of them will form the nucleus of the newly established formations and units, and charged them to justify the resources invested in their training through professionalism, sound judgment and commitment to their assigned missions.

The expansion has already produced new leadership appointments. The Army has undertaken a reorganisation of its Divisional Areas of Responsibility, with 1 Division in Kaduna now responsible for security across Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States, while 2 Division in Ibadan will cover Oyo State. Major General Yakubu Yahaya was redeployed to Headquarters 9 Division in Ilorin as General Officer Commanding, while Major General Chinedu Nnebeife moved to Headquarters 10 Division in Jalingo.

Shaibu said, “The programme is designed to instil the warrior ethos, sharpen combat skills and prepare our soldiers to confront emerging security threats.”

He listed the threats the new formations are meant to address. He identified terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, separatist agitations and transnational organised crime among the security challenges confronting the country.

Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, issued the statement disclosing details of the ceremony.

Details on the specific divisions receiving the 1,182 graduates, and their deployment timeline, remain unclear.

Shaibu closed with a direct charge to the new soldiers: “I charge you to remain morally upright and conduct yourselves in a manner that reflects the values of the Nigerian Army.”