NAF completes 2025 shooting range classification exercise

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), through its 115 Special Operations Group (115 SOG), Port Harcourt, has successfully concluded the 2025 Shooting Range Classification Exercise.

The three-day event, held from August 26 to 28 at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School Range, Onne, underscored the commitment of the Chief of the Air Staff, Hasan Bala Abubakar, to realistic training, operational readiness, and joint force integration.

According to a statement via NAF’s official X handle, on Friday, the exercise which was designed to sharpen marksmanship, instill discipline, and test combat preparedness, also showcased interagency cooperation, with senior officers and guest firers from the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies actively participating.

The statement reads, “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), through the 115 Special Operations Group (115 SOG), Port Harcourt, has successfully concluded its 2025 Shooting Range Classification Exercise. The three-day event, held from 26–28 August at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School range, Onne, underscored the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar’s commitment to realistic training, operational readiness, and joint force integration.

“The exercise, designed to sharpen marksmanship, enhance discipline, and test combat preparedness, went beyond routine proficiency. It became a powerful demonstration of interagency cooperation as senior officers and guest firers from the Nigerian Navy and other security formations actively participated. This collaboration highlighted the shared vision of the Armed Forces leadership to foster unity of purpose and strengthen collective responsibility in defending the nation.

“By hosting the exercise at a naval facility and engaging sister services as well as other security agencies, 115 SOG not only elevated the combat competence of its personnel but also reinforced the culture of jointness central to modern military operations. With every officer, airman, airwoman, and guest firer rigorously tested and certified, the NAF reaffirmed its resolve to remain a formidable and agile force, while promoting cohesion across Nigeria’s security architecture. The 2025 classification exercise therefore stands as both a measure of proficiency and a milestone in deepening inter-service trust, cooperation, and operational synergy in the pursuit of national security.”