The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Division Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen Abdulsalam Abubakar has said the prevailing insecurity situation in the country calls for consistent training and retraining of military personnel.
Gen. Abubakar stated this on Thursday during the closing ceremony of 3 Division Inter – Formation Warrant Officers and Senior Non Commissioned Officers Competition held at the 3 Division Headquarters Rukuba Barracks near Jos.
According to him: “As you are aware, the level of insecurity in the country and the world at large requires consistent training of personnel to enable us to secure the lives and property of law-abiding citizens.
“Therefore, this competition was organised with the aim of training Warrant Officers and Senior Non Commissioned Officers as the closest Senior leaders of troops in the field, for quick response to emerging threats in the discharging of our roles in a joint environment with our sister services and other security agencies”, the Army boss said.
He urge them to remain resolute, committed and steadfast in discharging their duties.
“Your professional conducts as trained soldiers are now needed more than ever before in surmounting the global contemporary security challenges”, he said.
ALSO READ: Gunmen abducts Catholics priest, others in Ebonyi
On his part, the Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, said training of Army personnel is necessary in winning the war against insurgency and banditry, especially now that the State is faced with insecurity especially in the Mangu LGA.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary Cabinet Office who also doubles as the Permanent Secretary Security, Mr. Steven Pam, Mutfwang said the competition will help to strengthen the personnel for better combat of criminal elements.
He said the government will continue to provide the enabling environment with support where necessary for the Army to continue to thrive.
Our correspondent reports that participants for the event were drawn from all the formations and units within the 3 Division Area of Responsibility covering Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba States.
The participants competed on Drills, Map Reading, Weapon Handling, Swimming, Combat Run and Obstacle Crossing amongst other physical training activities that took place during the four days event.
At the end of the competition, 3 Division Garrison Jos emerged the overall winner of the competition with 470 points of the 500 points, 23 Armoured Brigade Yola came 2nd with 400 points, 33 Artillery Brigade Bauchi emerged 3rd with 390 points, 6 Infantry Brigade Yola came 4th with 370 points, 43 Engineer Brigade 3 Division Jos emerged 5th with 330 points while 53 Signal Brigade 3 Division Jos came 6th with 290 points.