The average number of rounds expended to kill one Boko Haram insurgent with the AK-47, Beryl and other assault rifle is 50,000. The average number of rounds expended by army snipers to kill one Boko Haram fighter is1.3 rounds. That’s a cost difference of $23,000 per kill for the average soldier, vs. $0.17 per kill for the military sniper.

Snipers have special abilities, training, and equipment within the army. It’s a sniper’s job to deliver discriminatory, highly accurate rifle fire against enemy targets that cannot be engaged successfully by the regular rifleman because of range, size, location, fleeting nature, or visibility.

Here we examine the role, equipment and training of the various sniper units within the regular Nigerian armed forces (not including the Special Forces).

On the battlefield, the sniper’s primary role is to scout out ahead of the main force and carry out reconnaissance and intelligence gathering while remaining undetected. They can also use their marksmanship skills to take out key enemy personnel. Such targets may include commanders, signallers and weapon systems operators.

A member of the Nigerian Armed Forces Sniper Unit wearing a ghillie suit takes part in an exercise during the African Land Forces Summit (ALFS) military demonstration held at General Ao Azazi barracks in Gwagwalada on April 17, 2018. 

In 2015 the Nigerian army sent 700 soldiers to Belarus and Russia for training as snipers to strengthen the fight against Boko Haram. The special snipers were chosen after a rigorous screening that was carried out towards the end of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

They were selected from the Army, Police, Navy, Air Force, and State Security Service (SSS) were flown to Belarus. These guys take are some of the elite and best trained unit in the army and take their Job seriously, and rightly so. Each of the sniper-trainees was paid $7,700, which was 30% of their Duty Transport Allowance (DTA), and promised payment of the 70% balance on their return to Nigeria. Well trained, well payed, professional.

Snipers may also support their battalion by providing overwatch / sniper cover, either during offensive operations or by guarding a base from attack.

A sniper may be called on to carry out counter-sniper missions i.e. hunting and neutralising their counterparts in an opposing force.

Some snipers undergoing training to allow them to call in and adjust indirect fires from artillery and mortars.

It is a highly specialised job and the role requires a high level of training and commitment. Snipers have to become masters at concealment, moving undetected, navigation, reconnaissance, observation and marksmanship.

Snipers work in 2-man teams, made up of a shooter, the No.1, armed with a long range precision rifle, and a spotter, the No.2. The spotter is usually the more experienced of the 2 and is in command of the team. He is responsible for planning routes, selecting targets and gauging shooting parameters such as windage, range to target, angle of shot, air density etc.

The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) Lagos state comment, police officers attached to Isolo division, has arrested Anthony Nwaneri, a fake naval officer.

(Photo credit: Vanguard Newspaper)