The 1 Division Garrison of the Nigerian Army, on Thursday, won the 2023 inter-brigade officers combat proficiency competition in Kaduna.
A total of 45 officers drawn from 1 Division Garrison, Kaduna; 3 Brigade, Kano; and 31 Brigade, Minna, competed in combat swimming, map reading, weapon handling and obstacle crossing.
1 Division Garrison Kaduna emerged overall winner in the competition with 380 points while 3 Brigade, Kano, had 300 points emerging second position.
The 31 Artillery Brigade, Minna, with 260 points was third.
In his address at the closing of the competition, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.- Gen.
Bamidele Alabi, commended the participants’ competence, endurance and team spirit.
Alabi, represented by the Chief of Staff, 1 Division Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. M. K. Gara, said that the events were designed to sharpen the participants battle instincts to better confront the prevailing security challenges in the Division’s operating environment.
He also said that for battles to be won, proactiveness in operations and taking steps ahead of the adversary was very essential.
“This is achieved through battle-oriented training such as this, among other factors, “Alabi said.
The GOC also said that the lessons from the competition went beyond individual and collective prizes.
He said that the event was about training the way the Nigerian Army fights and being ready to justify the gains of the competition on the battlefield.
Alabi congratulated the winners of the competition and tasked all personnel on dedication, hard work and physical fitness in order to ensure readiness for any assigned task.
He thanked the Chief of Army Staff for making available the resources for the training and for several other interventions to support the Division.
The high point of the event was the show of physical prowess during obstacle crossing, and award session for units that won trophies in the competition.
