The Nigerian Navy Special Boats Service (NNSBS) has graduated 20 operators from the British Defence Staff (BDS) Visit, Board, Search and Seizure Level 2 (VBSS-L2) Course at its headquarters in Ojo, Lagos.
The three-week intensive training, conducted by instructors from the United Kingdom’s 42 Royal Marines Commando, concluded on Thursday, 29 January 2026.
The graduation ceremony was attended by the United Kingdom Defence Attaché and Head of BDS West Africa, Brigadier General Thomas Harper, alongside Staff Officer Grade 2 Maritime, Lieutenant Commander Peter Fairbanks.
The Commanding Officer of NNSBS, Captain Andrew Zidon, senior naval officers and invited guests were also present.
As part of the course, the trainees carried out a Final Training Exercise at Ibeshe Beach, where they planned and executed a simulated raid on a designated objective to neutralise a violent extremist group. The exercise demonstrated the enhanced operational readiness of the graduating personnel.
Certificates and awards were presented to the operators and members of the BDS training team at the conclusion of the ceremony.
