PASSING OUT PARADE.




Initials PB/VS/CCT/SS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THREE HUNDRED SOLDIERS, THE FIRST MEN CALLED UP FOR MILITARY TRAINING AFTER THE OUT BREAK OF CIVIL WAR IN NIGERIA, ON SATURDAY COMPLETED THEIR SIX-MONTHS TRAINING COURSE WITH A PASSING-OUT PARADE IN LAGOS.

THE TROOPS HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO TAKE UP REINFORCEMENT DUTIES ON THE VARIOUS FRONTS NOW HELD BY FEDERAL FORCES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE BREAKAWAY EASTERN REGION, NOW CALLING ITSELF BIAFRA.

THE RECRUITS HELD THEIR FINAL TRAINING PARADE BEFORE COLONEL HARUNA, OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE LAGOS FEDERAL ARMY GARRISON.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED SHORT INTENSIVE PERIODS OF MILITARY TRAINING AFTER THE OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES NEARLY A YEAR AGO. IN LAGOS ALONE THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL DIVISIONS OF RECRUITS TRAINED, BUT NOT IN SUCH SHORT COURSES AS THOSE WHO PASSED-OUT ON SATURDAY.

THE RECRUITS HAVE BEEN DRAWN FROM YOUNG MEN OF WIDELY VARYING OCCUPATIONS. THE SERVICE THEY SEE WILL LARGELY DEPEND ON HOW LONG NIGERIA'S INTERNAL STRIFE CONTINUES, AND HOW LONG AFTER THE CIVIL WAR IT TAKES FOR THE SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY TO RETURN TO NORMAL.