The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Regiment Training Centre Annex (RTCA), Bauchi, in collaboration with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Bauchi State Command, has conducted a specialised training on the identification of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
The training was designed for participants of Special Forces Course 13/2026.
This is in a bid to sustain operational dominance in increasingly complex security environments.
The training was aimed at sharpening the situational awareness, force protection capabilities, and operational effectiveness of the trainees to enable them effectively counter explosive threats within contemporary operational environments.
The exercise further reflects the Nigerian Air Force’s sustained commitment to producing highly skilled and mission-ready special forces personnel capable of executing precision operations across diverse theatres.
Speaking during the exercise, the Commandant of RTCA Bauchi, Squadron Leader Lawrence Akpan, said that “the training was in line with the Centre’s mandate to produce resilient and combat-ready special forces personnel capable of operating effectively in volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous environments”.
He emphasised the importance of equipping personnel with the tactical knowledge required to detect, identify, and safely respond to explosive threats during operations.
Squadron Leader Akpan further noted that the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has continued to prioritise realistic training, operational adaptability, and mission-oriented capacity development to ensure NAF personnel remain decisive, proactive, and dominant in the conduct of counterterrorism and other special operations.
During the practical sessions, trainees were exposed to various forms of IEDs, threat indicators, and safety procedures applicable during combat operations.
The NPF EOD Team conducted practical demonstrations on the detonation mechanism of pressure plate IEDs while also exposing trainees to the critical components of explosive devices, including containers, initiators, charges, power sources, and switch mechanisms.
The exercise provided participants with valuable operational insight into the construction and functioning of explosive devices commonly encountered during operations.
The collaboration further underscored the growing importance of inter-agency synergy in strengthening national security architecture and enhancing operational effectiveness against insurgency, terrorism, and other asymmetric threats confronting the nation.
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