KEY POINTS

• COAS warns criminal groups their “time is running out.”
• Exercise prepares artillery for modern warfare challenges.
• Army emphasises innovation, research, and local solutions.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has warned criminal groups and insurgents that their “time is running out,” declaring that the Nigerian Army will take decisive steps to restore peace across the country.

Oluyede issued the warning on Tuesday during the opening of Exercise Vulcan Glow XI 2025 Study Period at the Nigerian Army School of Artillery in Kachia, Kaduna State.

Represented by Maj.-Gen. Musa Etsu-Ndagi, the Deputy Chief of Training (Army), Oluyede said the exercise was designed to sharpen artillery formations for their core duty of providing fire support to army operations.

He stressed the need for innovation in modern warfare, especially in the deployment of precision firepower and emerging military technologies.

Training to boost artillery effectiveness

Commending the Corps of Artillery for its ongoing work in maintenance, repairs, and research, the COAS praised the unit for adopting indigenous solutions to fix technical challenges in its equipment.

He urged artillery personnel to sustain training discipline, maintain their weapons regularly, and remain combat-ready at all times.

Oluyede also reaffirmed his support for the corps’ research and development efforts, expressing confidence that they could evolve into world-class maintenance hubs in the near future.

The army chief thanked President Bola Tinubu for what he described as “unwavering support and strategic guidance” to the Nigerian Army.

Corps demonstrates readiness through live fire

Earlier, the Commander of the Corps of Artillery, Maj.-Gen. Zakaria Abubakar, explained that Exercise Vulcan Glow XI is an annual training programme aimed at enhancing the operational capacity of artillery troops.

He said the exercise focuses on mastering artillery tactics in conventional, hybrid, and counter-terrorism environments, in line with the army chief’s strategy of consolidating ongoing transformation within the force.

The training, he also added, would climax with a live fire demonstration to showcase precision, coordination, and combat readiness.

Abubakar emphasised that the drill also serves as a signal of the army’s commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The session featured a lecture by retired Maj.-Gen. T.A. Gagariga titled “Enhancing Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery Through Realistic Training and Maintenance of Artillery Platforms for Effective Fire Support Within a Joint and Multi-Agency Environment.”