Soldiers during the range classification exercise of the 81 Division at Owode-Yewa, Ogun State
Chiemelie Ezeobi, who was part of the ongoing Range Classification Exercise of the 81 Division Headquarters of the Nigerian Army, which comprise all units and formations in Lagos and Ogun States, writes that the exercise was meant to improve personnel weapon handling and marksmanship
It was the booming sound of gunfire that woke Taoheed Ajayi from sleep penultimate Thursday, but the gunshots were far from his house. A resident of Owode-Yewa in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, he had become accustomed to the annual ritual. “The soldiers are in training,” he said with a sense of familiarisation.
Yes, to prepare a formidable army in weapon handling and marksmanship, the Nigerian Army commenced its Range Classification Exercise across the nation recently.
According to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika the ongoing training amongst men and officers of the Nigerian army is to turn them into marksmen with the aim of reducing casualties among the civil populace in the fight against Boko Haram and other security challenges facing the nation.
He said: “By classification, we ensure that every soldier of the Nigerian army, annually, practices to shoot his and other weapons. It is aimed at ensuring that the weapons are in good conditions and that the firers are good shots. The need to sharpen our skills as far as marksmanship is concerned is very much desirable now. Because in the present security challenges, we do not want any cases of accidental discharge, we want to be sure that collateral damages are reduced to the barest minimum, so every soldier needs to be trained as a marksman.”
For the Nigerian Army (NA), the exercise which holds quarterly comes just after the medical and physical tests. But while the medical and physical tests are to test the health and fitness of soldiers, the Range Classification exercise is to test weapon handling and marksmanship 

During the kick-off of this year’s classification exercise for 2013, held at the military range at Owode in Ogun State, all officers were tested on Fabrique Nationale (FN) rifle and Pietrol Beretta pistol at different meters from the target. While the FN Rifle was shot from afar off, the pistol however was done at close marking.


Defence correspondents of different media houses including this reporter, Philip Nwosu, Dennis Okosun, Chiamaka Ikechukwu and Bola Frazier of the Sun, Pilot Newspapers, Voice of Nigeria and Channels Television respectively also actively participated in the exercise and they held their grounds.

Without doubt, the range classification exercise improved the knowledge of the army personnel, especially with the Nigerian Army's continuous peace keeping missions in Sudan, Mali, Somalia and other war-torn countries, as well as their active participation in internal security initiatives.

The classification exercise, a mandatory requirement for the Nigerian Armed Forces as well as other security apparatus of the government has over the years ensured proper weapon handling in the army through regular practice. 

And to prevent its personnel from being out of form in shooting and to keep them alert at all times, the Nigerian Army has shown so much commitment to range classification exercise year after year.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Abel Obi Umahi, who shot with senior officers of the division, challenged officers and men of the division to improve on their weapon handling and marksmanship in order to avoid wasting ammunition during operations.


He said: "The purpose is to improve on weapon handling and marksmanship principles so that in a real life situation the soldiers won't waste shots because it is one man, one shot in warfare."

The GOC reiterated that the exercise was significant considering the security challenges in the country at the moment. The exercise he said was part of the measures taken by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika to transform the NA into a force that is able to tackle contemporary challenges.

Umahi said it was a routine training exercise that was carried out on quarterly basis involving all the troops of the division, pointing out that the exercise was basically to improve the proficiency of troops.

He debunked the claims that the career of any officer found to have performed below expectation will be affected. He clarified that the person would be identified as weak in weapon handling and in need of additional training for better performance.

"If you are identified as someone that misses much target, you will be trained and retrained but it will not affect your career except you refuse to learn," he clarified.

For the NA's efficiency in the areas of national responsibility, Umahi said, although there has been some security challenges threatening lives and property, the Nigerian Army has been able to douse the situation.

He said: “We have been able to do all this without blowing our trumpet. Whatsoever task that is committed to us, we carry it out with zeal and commitment.

“We are going to be professional and clinical in our approach to the security challenges that we have in this area of our responsibility. Recently, our Quick Response Group (QRG) rescued a man kidnapped by his nephew along the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway."

At the end, before the GOC and his team left the range, they were declassified to ensure none left the area with empty cartridges or empty live rounds. According to one of the senior officers who declassified Umahi and others, being found with such outside the range is a criminal act that would be duly punished. 

And now high expectation is placed on the army personnel in their responsibilities for external and internal security of the nation.
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