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Liberia: 200 AFL Soldiers commence advance Military training courses in Nigeria
Mar 4, 2008
by Michael Kpayili / Staff Writer

Seventy out of two hundred soldiers of the Armed Forces of Liberia were on March 1, 2008 airlifted via a Nigerian military aircraft, Hercules C-130 to the Northern Nigerian State of Kuduna, to commence five months of courses in specialized Guerrilla warfare at the Infantry Corps Center and Training School, Jaji, Kaduna.

The infantry training is part of a continuous military assistance package offered to Liberia by the Government and people of Nigeria. The specialized warfare course according to a Defense Ministry release comprised training in jungle warfare, Counter-terrorism, Mountain and Desert warfare. The Soldiers are also expected to attend specialized courses at the Amphibious Training School, Calabar, South Eastern Nigeria.

Addressing the Soldiers before their embarkation on the Military aircraft, the Charge d’ affaires at the Nigerian Embassy in Liberia, Essesien Ntekim said the initiative represent the fulfillment of a pledge made by Nigeria to assist Liberia achieve stable security environment which according to him would accommodate political, economic and social enhancement in the recovery drive of the war injured country. “As a Stakeholder in Liberia, Nigeria would continue to do whatever is desirable in ensuring that Liberia once again rose to its enviable height”, Mr. Ntekim asserted.

Also speaking prior to the departure of the Soldiers, the Commanding Officer of the Armed Forces of Liberia, Major General Suraj A. Abdurrahman urged the Soldiers to exhibit high level of commitment, professionalism, patriotisms and dedication in absorbing their lessons and military obligations. He said President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf had high expectation of them that they must reciprocate same through absolute loyalty and hard work.

The second and third batch of the Soldiers expected to participate in the training are scheduled to depart Liberia on March 3rd and 5th via the C-130 Nigerian Military Aircraft.

The training of the new recruits of the Armed Forces of Liberia have been criticized by many experts in the field with criticism centering around the involvement of both American and British style of training been thought to the new Soldiers. The regular salute of the new AFL is sometimes display either in the American style or the British Style thereby creating doubt in the future performance of the soldiers.

About the Author:
Michael Kpayili is a staff writer for TheLiberianTimes.com. Kpayili has written articles which have appeared on TheLiberianTimes.com since late 2005, and his hard hitting investigative journalism has earned the respect of the Liberian press community.

Michael Kpayili may be contacted at mkpayili@theliberiantimes.com.