1st Division (Nigeria)
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Nigeria| 1st Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1967–present |
| Country | Nigeria |
| Type | Mechanized infantry |
| Role | Anti-tank warfare Armoured reconnaissance Artillery observer Close-quarters battle Combined arms Counter-battery fire Desert warfare Fire support Indirect fire Jungle warfare Maneuver warfare Raiding Reconnaissance |
| Size | Division |
| Part of |  Nigerian Army |
| Garrison/HQ | Kaduna, Nigeria |
| Commanders | |
| General Officer Commanding | Major General M.L.D. Saraso |
| Notable commanders |
|
The 1st Division is one of two mechanized infantry division unit of the Nigerian Army (NA), which specialized in combined arms, desert and jungle warfare, maneuver warfare, and reconnaissance. It was established during the Nigerian Civil War and is charged with securing its area of responsibility covering the North Western flank of Nigeria and also ensuring that the borders located in its AOR are secured. The division is a mechanized infantry with affiliated combat support and combat service support units.[1]
In August–September 1967, 1 Area Command at Kaduna was predesignated 1 Infantry Division, and 2 Division was formed under Colonel Murtala Mohammed.[2] At the end of the Civil War, the three divisions of the army were reorganized into four divisions, with each controlling territories running from North to South, with each division having access to the sea. This was later abandoned in favor of the assignment of sectors to the divisions.[3]
Divisional components
- Division Headquarters (Kaduna)[4]
- 241st Recce Battalion (Nguru)
- 1st Mechanised Brigade (Sokoto)
- 65th Mechanised Battalion
- 81st Motorised Battalion
- 223rd Light Battalion
- 3rd Brigade (Kano)
- 41st Division Engineers
- a signals formation of brigade size
- 31st Artillery Brigade[5]
The existence of 3rd Brigade at Kano was corroborated by a May 2015 report of 1,000 soldiers dismissed "for allegedly disobeying orders during onslaughts against Boko Haram militants in the North-east."[6]
17 Brigade began its formation in late 2017, and was officially established on 20 February 2018 for internal security duties.[7] It became part of 1 Division.