By Nokai Origin
Inside Jaji, the rhythm of a soldier’s day is raw, exacting yet deeply human. The immersive field reporting offers a rare civilian lens into the discipline, camaraderie and daily realities shaping Nigeria’s military backbone at the nation’s premier training ground, the Armed Forces Command and Staff College.
Zig Diaries| Feature
Date: Thursday, 16 October 2025
Time: 22:00 WAT
Location: Nigeria
When I took off to the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji earlier in September for Excercise HASKE BIYU 2025, to join members of Course 47, I had no idea what to expect.
I had barely wrapped up a hectic week of exams schedules inbetween work and going from main town Abuja to Kubwa venue of exams, when I got notified that I am required to be in Jaji for a training of about a month. I exclaimed, a month?
My mind started spinning with all kinds of questions, my curiosity was heightened and with that also was my apprehension and feeling of pressure over the last few exam papers I had to write, how to start packing inbetween the tight schedules and the stress that was already showing.
That awareness became almost like a distraction from my exam focus, but I had promised myself that whatever I start, I finish well. I had concluded to travel on Monday the 15th, a day after my exam, instead of Sunday as the schedule of AFCSC demanded for participants. But a persuasive Jaji College Sponsor DS (Directing Staff), Lieutenant Colonel Achieche Ijakpa had a day prior, encouraged me enough to change my mind and plan departure for Sunday after exam paper. By Sunday morning, I had to move to the exam venue with my ready to travel bags, with great help from course mate, Engineer Mubarak Abdulkareem and from the exam venue took off a bit late.
Getting to Jaji that night at about 9pm and a call, through to the sponsor DS ensured that I got to the hostel accommodation for registration formalities. I was exhausted, stressed and had not eaten since morning. One of the kind medical staff offered and got me something to eat as my late arrival had deprived me of the dinner that was served.
The days began with early morning wakes, early breakfast, regimented transport and logistics arrangement to ensure order and accountability; a typical style of the military environment. I struggled the first few days to adjust to the new lifestyle, new eating formats and timings. At the opening ceremony, my mind was more of a reporter than a participants, trying to capture all I needed to file stories and report on the event. While doing that, I also had the avenue to meet some good and accommodating senior personnel with whom I interacted, and some left a lasting impression on me. Among such men, Colonel BC Eze, an embodiment of a kind human being, whom I fondly call 'the Gentle Giant'. He along with his company of Chief Instructors who I suspect must have wondered why I was around their seating area alot that day, but they understood when I told them that I needed to capture sound from the output that was situated where they were seated.
Following the opening ceremony, the excercise activities progressed with hectic schedules or at least for those of us that were external participants, it felt more demanding. I had my struggles adjusting to the environment and schedules but must appreciate again Lieutenant Colonel Ijakpa who despite carrying a lot of burdens and responsibilities, was able to manage and give solutions to some of the challenges I had with show of kindness and human face. I could only imagine the number of things that required solutions from other participants that he had to manage as well. But in all, his level of discipline and training showed and his capabilities to handle the pressures and demands of overseeing such huge task through the duration of the excercise.
I particularly cannot forget when I woke up feeling really sick one of the mornings and had notified him and a few others, barely able to leave bed because I needed help. He assigned one of the personnel to ensure I was taken to the clinic and assisted through my needs for the day. Ironically, the officer whom he assigned to attend to me, Major S. Garba turned out to be someone I had known years ago from the theatre that has become like a brother to me. A small world indeed! A good fireman whose room was next to mine, Epaphras Anzolo, who was very helpful through my stay insisted on taking me to the clinic since his mind would not be at rest leaving me in that state alone before Major Garba arrived that day. I must also acknowledge the guidance of retired but not tired Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman who despite his busy schedule checks up on me and encouraged me.
From the selected resource persons who delivered lectures, including the Olu of Warri, who I tag "the most steezeful King", to the various excercises that included group work with avenue to forge stronger bonds, to syndicate rooms which really sparked my interest and caught my attention, as it brought to fore what is demanded of Field Commanders and officers in real time situations where prompt decisions are required and critical thinking and actions need to be swift in times of crisis. In my syndicate group, Colonel James Ndagawa engaged each participant with on the spot responses to situation as is demanded of the excercise, challenging each in the syndicate to always be aware of their various roles, what is required in given real crisis situation, the approaches to deploy and how to be solution providers in the collective task of national security.
Field trips, playlets and simulation exercises gave participants greater understanding of real-time responses to crisis management and handling. The cells gave the media an opportunity to also put their expertise to work with daily running and routines of a newsroom with the goal of supporting an operational environment through the lense of a whole of society approach. I must say Squadron Leader Glory Ikeh-Tongha led the media cells to a stand out performance and it was fantastic working with all of the distinguished personnel and my coleagues from the media and NOA.
I cannot forget my highest point of the entire experience when some of us had the opportunity to get into the literal shoes of the military and wore the khaki uniform. We had a first hand experience of what our Armed forces get to do as daily routines. Excercise 'A Day in the Life of A Soldier', a part of the HASKE BIYU excercise I was somewhat apprehensive about and by the time I was given boots and khaki, it became so real. A big appreciation to Lieutenant Colonel Dogara Soja who the college put in charge of the coordination for a good handling. That singular day and experience turns out to be my most memorable and unforgettable of all where we were given the opportunity to experience first hand the daily routines and duties of a Soldier.
The day started with the morning Physical Training or early morning bodily excercises and aerobics in which I had so much fun dancing to music and catching some groove with motivation from some of the senior officers at the college as well as General SK Usman. The best early morning I had in Jaji. The Soldier’s Life Day got off with a matching parade from the hostel all the way to the Special Warfare Wing Parade Ground with some push ups along the way, a few salutes to senior commanders and a doze of motivational songs and chants. On getting to the Special Warfare Wing, we sat for a brief lecture for orientation and briefings on activities planned out for the day. We also witnessed the proceedings of the justice system in an operational environment to see how cases of misconducts are handled.
A major task that we had to go through was the gearing up for the endurance task or ascending what is known as 'The Shrine', where we were given those heavy tactical backpacks or combat packs that soldiers are expected to carry in battle grounds, containing what would save them and sustain them through the day's mission. I remember reacting with an "ahhh" when the weight was mounted on me by the soldiers of the Special Warfare Unit and our lead quide, the Chief Instructor, Special Warfare Wing of the College, Colonel MM Marwa summoned me forward to have a feel of the more standard weight packs that the soldiers carry. Well, let's just say, I knew the difference instantly. After initial wobbling at the first instance my combat pack was mounted on me, I eventually stabilised and was good to go. In an unexpected turn of events that surprised even me, I became the first female to ascend and descend the course and earned the Special Warfare Unit instructor's medal🎖️which was presented to me at the end of day's activities.
I saw the military in a different light, I found a new understanding and appreciation. Mingling and participating for almost a month gave us bonding, connections, friendships with members of the Armed Forces of not just Nigeria but the many African countries that come to the prestigious military institution of Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji as well as all other agencies that took part.
I must express profound appreciation to the military hierarchy, the college for giving us the opportunity to be closer and learn so much. From the commandant Air Vice Marshal Hassan Alhaji who is such a gracious and approachable human being and was previledged to have some chats with when the occasion permitted, to the Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies, Rear Admiral AC Uko who I must say, I was glad I got to see him smile during the cells presentation before I left the college. The Director Department of Joint Studies, Brigadier General Samaila Uba who was kind enough to appreciate the work I do with stories I share from operational updates and a host of the distinguished Senior men and officers at Jaji doing us proud. They deserved to be celebrated.
I cannot forget my interactions with some of the men who also left an impression on me: group Captain A Ekpo, Colonel Lamtey from Ghana Armed Forces who I fondly called "Ghana Jelof" stemming from the Nigeria-Ghana brotherly banter, to the College Pro, Lieutenant Colonel Olukoya for always providing information whenever needed, Squadron Leader Emmanuel Ekoh, a very composed and discipline officer who made my stay memorable and showed me kindness. And a host of others that impacted me in one way or the other through my stay at the college. The kitchen staff who also showed me kindness down to the team leaders bus navigator, friends from other agencies and services I made. Thank you so much Sirs for all that you do for the country, thank you for your service and I salute your courage. God bless the Armed Forces of Nigeria, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
🏷️ Tags: Jaji, Nigerian Army, Military Training, Field Experience, Defence, Security, Soldier’s Life, Immersive Reporting, Nigeria, Zig Diaries
#Jaji #NigerianArmy #FieldExperience #ImmersiveReporting #Defence #Security #SoldiersLife #Nigeria #ZigDiaries #MilitaryJourney
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