The 82 Division of the Nigerian Army has ended its 2022 Inter-Brigade Corporals and Below Competition held in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, Nigeria.
Involved in the competition were soldiers drawn from 82 Division Garrison and 44 Engineering Brigade in Enugu State, 34 Artillery Brigade Owerri, Imo State, 14 Brigade Ohafia, Abia State and the host 13 Brigade, Calabar.
According to a statement signed by the 13 Brigade Public Relations Officer, Captain Dorcas Aluko, the competition was a 5-day event, which featured exercises like Drill, Weapon Handling, Night and Day Firing, Combat Swimming, Obstacle Crossing, Cross Country race and Map Reading as well as Navigation.
The statement further indicated that at the end of the competition, 13 Brigade came in first place with six trophies; 14 Brigade Ohafia won second position, while 44 Engineer Brigade placed third and 82 Division Garrison as well as 34 Artillery Brigade got fourth and fifth positions respectively.
Aluko indicated that the competition “was aimed at improving the leadership and organising team spirit among Corporals and Below in 82 Division with the view to prepare them for more challenging responsibilities.”
The statement also indicated that the Special Guest of Honour, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, who is the General Officer Commanding, GOC 82 Division, commended the soldiers for the “passion, doggedness, dexterity, skill and professionalism” exhibited during the exercises.
He urged the soldiers to continue training, which was an important part of Nigerian Army, assuring “the Division will continue to pursue training in order to perfect on the current tactics, techniques and procedures with a view to realising the Chief of Army Staff’s vision of a professional Nigerian Army ready to accomplish assigned missions within a joint environment in defending Nigeria.”
In a remark, the Commander 13 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Everest Okoro noted that the participants competed vigorously and skilfully in what he described as “a series of military and combat activities, while exhibiting an appreciable level of preparedness.”
Brigadier General Okoro commended the GOC and the team of umpires for a successful exercise and the choice of Calabar for the competition.
The event was attended by representatives of the Nigerian Navy, the Nigeria Police Force and paramilitary agencies in Cross River State.
