The Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta said yesterday that it would continue to train several of its soldiers to further boost combat readiness of troops in the creeks.

The Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Owerri, Brig.-Gen. Lanre Bello, announced this at the graduation of 22 soldiers from the Watermanship Training in Harry’s town, Degema LGA of Rivers State.

Bello said the exercise organised by the JTF Sector 2 was aimed at equipping soldiers and officers with requisite skills to swim and manoeuvre the difficult terrain of creeks in the Niger Delta.

He said soldiers were trained in freestyle, breasts, back and butterfly strokes and as such, would no longer have the fear of water while carrying out operations in the creeks.

“The trainees are very delighted because they were able to acquire skills on Watermanship and this will impact greatly on their ability when they go back to their various units and formations”, he said..

Earlier, Lt.-Col Caius Baushe, the Commanding Officer of the 130 Battalion and Chief Instructor of the exercise, said the soldiers were also drilled in physical endurance, ground, water, and instructional phases during the training.

According to him, the 22 well-trained, highly-motivated and combat-prepared troops can stand the test of time in any water operation.

Source: Daily Trust