The United States has stepped up security cooperation with Nigeria, providing specialised training to Nigerian troops in unmanned aircraft systems, combat casualty care and other military skills in Bauchi State.
The training is being conducted at an Operating Location (OL) in Bauchi as part of a broader US-Nigeria security cooperation programme aimed at strengthening military capabilities, improving operational readiness and building long-term partner capacity.
The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) disclosed this in a report on Monday.
According to AFRICOM, the training covers Combat Lifesaver and Tactical Combat Casualty Care, weapons familiarisation, camouflage, water treatment and testing, explosive ordnance disposal, small-unit tactics and unmanned aircraft systems.
It said the training areas were selected from a range of options presented by US personnel based on their expertise and the operational needs identified by their Nigerian counterparts.
Capt Gabriel Feingold, a logistics officer with the US Army Southern European Task Force, Africa and operations officer at OL Bauchi, said Nigerian military leadership was given several training options from which it selected the areas considered most beneficial.
“We bring them a list of several different training topics, and they select what they think would be most beneficial for them,” Feingold said.
AFRICOM said unmanned aircraft systems attracted particular interest from Nigerian forces, with Sgt Mark Murphy, an intelligence analyst assigned to the 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, training about 10 personnel from the Nigerian Air Force Special Forces Regiment.
The UAS training began with about 45 minutes of classroom instruction before moving to practical exercises on operating the aircraft.
Murphy also trained the Nigerian personnel on deploying the systems and integrating intelligence gathered through them into military operations.
“They were really excited with being able to get hands-on time with it,” Murphy said, adding that the Nigerian personnel had expressed interest in receiving further training on the systems.
Beyond technical and operational capabilities, AFRICOM said the joint exercises were also aimed at strengthening relationships and interoperability between American and Nigerian service members.
Feingold said the engagement was particularly valuable in fostering relationships between personnel at the lower levels of both forces.
“It helps build relationships between Soldiers and the partner force, especially at the lower levels,” he said.
The report added that US and Nigerian personnel also participate in recreational activities, including basketball and volleyball, when operational commitments and weather conditions permit.
AFRICOM said both countries were developing additional training opportunities at OL Bauchi as they continued to identify areas where personnel could exchange expertise and improve military capabilities.
The latest training comes weeks after AFRICOM disclosed in July that the US had withdrawn most of the troops deployed to Nigeria for a specific counterterrorism operation while maintaining intelligence-sharing and security cooperation with the country.
