The institution made this known in a statement on Monday issued by the Academy Public Relations Officer, Maj. Mohammed Maidawa.
The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna State has informed residents of Mando, Tsamiya, Kauya and Afaka general areas about its upcoming shooting practice.
The institution made this known in a statement on Monday issued by the Academy Public Relations Officer, Maj. Mohammed Maidawa.
The military informed the residents not to be panicked and afraid if they heard repeated gunshots between January 9 and February 2 2024.
The statement added that the exercise was for the Army cadets of 71 Regular Course of the nation’s foremost military university.
While urging the residents not to panic over the exercise, which involved shooting, the statement, however, warned the public not to trespass the shooting range where the exercise would take place.
The statement read, “The Nigerian Defence Academy wishes to inform the general public, especially inhabitants of Mando, Tsamiya, Kauyd and Afaka general area, that it will be conducting a Range Management Package for Army Cadets of 71 Regular Course.
“The exercise is scheduled to be held between 9 January and 2 February 2024 at NDA Open Range Afaka. The NDA assures the general public that all necessary safety measures have been put in place for the successful conduct of the exercise.
“However, we advise the general public to avoid trespassing in the general area throughout the period of the exercise.”
Military shooting ranges have in the recent past been injurious to residents.
In 2022, SaharaReporters reported how tension engulfed some areas close to the 2 Division, Nigerian Army, at Odogbo Barracks in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as two persons were reportedly hit by stray bullets from a shooting range exercise within the barracks in September 2022.
It was learned that one of the victims identified only as Daniel was about 10 years old while the other victim was popularly known as Baba Ajeri.
It was gathered that the two victims were rushed to the hospital inside the barracks where army medical personnel attended to them.
The residents had lamented that their buildings, especially roofs, had been damaged by a volley of bullets from the shooting range while many of them stayed indoors in order to escape the flying bullets.