UK to train Nigerian troops

The United Kingdom has offered to train Nigerian soldiers on counter insurgency operations, army spokesman, Colonel Sani Usman said yesterday.

He said the General Officer Commanding, 1st Division of UK Army, Major General Giles Hill, made the offer at the Nigerian Army headquarters in Abuja.

Usman said General Hill, who visited the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, said bilateral relations between Nigeria and the UK would be maintained.

“General Hill expressed the UK government’s willingness to offer training opportunities for Nigerian Army personnel on counter insurgency operations. He also commended the Nigerian Army on its efforts against Boko Haram terrorists and pledged his country’s readiness to assist Nigeria in developing long term capacity building, particularly in the area of security,” Usman added.

General Buratai said the two countries would continue to improve on the already existing relations between them and pledged the army’s readiness to cooperate and work with the UK.

He assured General Hill of the Nigerian Army’s determination to end terrorism soon.