by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
JOS: The Joint Task Force of the Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) and Soldiers of the 3rd Armored Division of the Nigerian Army, Rukuba Cantonment, recently conducted a Short-range Rifle Marksmanship training to identify problems in logistics and increase troops’ skills in combat readiness.
The live firing event, which took place at Shooting Range, in Miango near Jos, Plateau State capital, has gained the beginners not only among the Army, but all the guests, including other Heads of Security Agencies, Government Functionaries, Traditional Rulers, Retired Senior Officers and Corps Members, who also joined the training exercises.
The Soldiers of the 3rd Armored Division, totaling 20 participants in each group of the firemen, were instructors for the training.
They handled the firearms so carefully, with safety and firing five rounds at 100 meters range target with AK-47 rifle, and moved carefully together with the rifle pointed to the safe direction and shoot again, five rounds at 70 meters range, also firing five rounds of pistol at 25-meters target.
The General Officer Commanding 3rd Armoured Division Rukuba, Major-General AE Abubakar, who joined the Range Officers and inspected the target board, explained that, “Each hit has a score but, if you hit the center of the target, you got higher scores.”
The spokesperson of the 3rd Division of the Nigerian Army, Aliyu Danja, explained earlier that, “The Nigerian Army Second Schedule Range Classification is an exercise conducted bi-annually in all the formations and units of the Nigerian Army for its personnel across the entire country.
He noted that, “The 3 Div Second Scheduled Range Classification exercise is designed to assess the serviceability of the Nigerian Army Arsenal and, at the same time to test the effectiveness of troops’ skills in weapon handling and also ascertain troops’ battle readiness.
“Furthermore, the exercise serves as an avenue for troops to sharpen their marksmanship skills, to ensure minimal casualty and waste of ammunition when deployed in battle or internal security operations.
“Also, the Range Classification exercise serves as an avenue of fostering mutual and cordial inter-agency relationship with sister security agencies through novelty shooting exercise where heads of security agencies, government functionaries, as well as traditional rulers, retired Senior Officers, Corps members and members of the media will take part in the exercise.
“The participation of security agencies and other guests is desirable, as it strengthens collaboration between security organizations on the Plateau.
“The inclusion of traditional rulers and civil societies in the shooting exercise was designed to enable them to have a feel of our weapon and also foster cordial civil-military relations and cooperation with the general public and to also have a feel of the military experience,” he stated.