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 specialized training on the identification and handling of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) for participants of Special Forces Course 13/2026.
The training was designed to enhance the situational awareness, force protection skills, and operational effectiveness of the trainees in responding to explosive threats in contemporary security operations.
Speaking during the exercise, the Commandant of RTCA Bauchi, Squadron Leader Lawrence Akpan, said the programme aligns with the Centre’s mandate to produce resilient and combat-ready special forces personnel capable of operating effectively in volatile and complex environments.
He stressed the importance of equipping personnel with the tactical knowledge required to detect, identify, and safely respond to explosive threats during military operations.
According to him, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, remains committed to realistic training, operational adaptability, and mission-oriented capacity development to ensure NAF personnel maintain operational dominance in counterterrorism and other special operations.
During the practical sessions, the trainees were exposed to different forms of IEDs, threat indicators, and safety procedures relevant to combat situations.
The NPF EOD team also conducted demonstrations on the detonation mechanisms of pressure plate IEDs and educated participants on the critical components of explosive devices, including containers, initiators, charges, power sources, and switch mechanisms.
The exercise provided the trainees with operational insight into the construction and functioning of explosive devices commonly encountered in the field, while also highlighting the importance of inter-agency collaboration in tackling insurgency, terrorism, and other asymmetric threats across the country.
