The Nigerian Army Armour School (NAAS) has officially wrapped up its 2026 academic and field training year following the successful execution of Exercise IRON THRUST, its final culminating Field Training Exercise.
According to a statement on Friday, by Adekunle A. Adeyemi , Major Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations
The high-intensity exercise took place on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, in the Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State, serving as the ultimate test for participating officers and soldiers across multiple career courses.
Briefing the Special Guest of Honour (SGOH) and other invited dignitaries, the Commandant of NAAS, Major General Sunday Makolo, explained that Exercise IRON THRUST was purposefully engineered to evaluate students on tactical leadership, command and control, and operational planning in both limited conventional warfare and Counter-Terrorism/Counter-Insurgency (CTCOIN) scenarios.
Participants drawn from the Armour Battalion Commanders Course, Armour Company Commanders Course, Armour Platoon Sergeant Course, and A1 Crewman Course were rigorously assessed during the field engagement. Tactical events included a high-precision dawn attack, a live firepower demonstration, and the strategic deployment of Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) across various phases of war to simulate realistic battlefield conditions.
Delivering his address as the Special Guest of Honour, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division, Major General Maxwell Dangana, charged the graduating students to translate their field experience into decisive operational success.
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“This exercise is a significant aspect of the Nigerian Army’s training efforts aimed at developing professionally competent and operationally effective personnel,” General Dangana stated. He noted that the dynamic firepower demonstrations provided a clear view of the combat capabilities of Nigeria’s Armour formations and reaffirmed that institutions like NAAS remain critical to building the competencies required for modern land warfare.
General Dangana further urged the personnel to uphold the core values of the Nigerian Army, maintain uncompromising professional standards, and dedicate themselves to continuous learning.
Expressing his pride in the exercise’s execution, Commandant Major General Sunday Makolo praised the officers and soldiers for their performance during the simulated dawn attack. He commended their high level of tactical coordination, discipline, aggressiveness, and situational awareness, noting that the students clearly translated classroom theory into practical, battlefield-ready proficiency.
Responding on behalf of the course participants, Lieutenant Colonel Adeola Adebo of the Armour Battalion Commanders Course delivered the vote of thanks. He expressed profound appreciation to the GOC for attending the closing ceremony, commended the Commander Armoured Corps for his steadfast dedication to training, and praised the NAAS Commandant for his leadership throughout the course.
The high-profile military event drew several top commanders, including the Commander Armoured Corps, Major General Umar Abubakar; Commander 33 Artillery Brigade, Brigadier General Saidu Shehu; Commander 27 Armour Brigade, Brigadier General Mohammed Sule; and Commander 301 Artillery Regiment (General Support), Colonel Suobor Beke, alongside other senior officers.