NAF Special Forces, EOD-NPF Undergo Counter-IED Training in Bauchi
Oru Leonard
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), in collaboration with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), Unit of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Bauchi State Command, has intensified efforts to strengthen counter-improvised explosive device (IED) warfare capabilities through a specialised training programme for Special Forces Course 13/2026.
The exercise, conducted at the NAF Regiment Training Centre Annex (RTCA), Bauchi, focused on enhancing the situational awareness, force protection skills, and operational effectiveness of special forces trainees operating in complex and high-risk environments.
According to the NAF, the training forms part of ongoing efforts to equip personnel with the tactical competence required to identify, detect, and respond safely to explosive threats commonly encountered during counterterrorism and special operations.
Speaking during the exercise, the Commandant of RTCA Bauchi, Squadron Leader Lawrence Akpan, said the initiative aligns with the Centre’s mandate of producing resilient and combat-ready special forces personnel capable of operating effectively in volatile and uncertain operational theatres.
He noted that the training reflects the strategic vision of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, who has continued to prioritise realistic training, operational adaptability, and mission-oriented capacity development for NAF personnel.
Akpan stressed that modern security threats require highly skilled operatives with the ability to recognise and neutralise explosive hazards during field operations.
During the practical sessions, trainees were exposed to different categories of IEDs, threat indicators, and combat safety procedures. The NPF EOD team also demonstrated the detonation mechanisms of pressure plate IEDs and educated participants on key explosive device components, including initiators, charges, power sources, switch mechanisms, and containers.
The exercise provided the participants with operational insights into the construction and functioning of explosive devices frequently deployed by insurgent and terrorist groups.
The collaboration between the NAF and the Nigeria Police Force further highlighted the growing importance of inter-agency cooperation in strengthening Nigeria’s national security framework and improving operational effectiveness against insurgency, terrorism, and other asymmetric threats.
