I have always (since the 1970s) enjoyed watching soldiers as they perform their regular route march (endurance walk) and physical examination. They are usually accompanied by ambulances (usually Pinzgauers) and men from the medical corp who attend to those that collapse because of exhaustion.


I have always enjoyed their singing and dancing, but the most interesting sight has always been the mascots. These are pictures of Corporal Rakumi (the Camel) as he led soldiers from Bonny Camp on their route march this morning.

[6:36AM]“@AyoAderufus:@Gidi_Traffic #NigerianArmybattalion with a #Camel mascot on Parade on #AhmaduBelloWay

https://mobile.twitter.com/Gidi_Traffic/status/639673435384336384

Rakumi was promoted to the rank of corporal in 2011.

COOLDK:

An unusual occurrence was witnessed at the Nigerian Army Cantonment in Victoria Island in
Lagos recently. It was the day military officers, both young and old, gathered to promote a camel
from the Sultanate’s animal husbandry. By the time the soldiers departed, the lucky camel was
wearing his new rank with pride. It was the day Camel Rakumi became a corporal in the Nigerian Army.


Brigadier General Sanusi Nasir Muazu, Commander of the 9 Brigade, , led other one star
Generals and Colonels to decorate the camel with the military rank of corporal. General Muazu commended the 65 Battalion of the force for keeping to the universal military tradition of maintaining a mascot.

The decoration had initially cast many questions in the hearts of barrack residents and watchers of events in military circles. Many people had sought the motive behind the adornment of a camel
with the rank of corporal.


Some military officers who spoke with Daily Sun likened the induction of Camel Rakumi to that of many military mascots scattered in all the armed forces around the world. Military mascots, the soldiers noted, refer to pet animals maintained by a military unit for ceremonial
purposes or as an emblem of that unit. It may also be referred to as a ceremonial pet or regimental
mascot.


The camel, Daily Sun learnt, had arrived Lagos from Sokoto State and had just reported to the
Commanding Officer of 65 Battalion after a three-month training at the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria, Kaduna State.


Identified as Camel Rakumi, the Army authorities said that the camel had reported that early at the parade ground because it was its day of induction into the Nigerian Army, as a mascot for the 65 Battalion. The battalion is an infantry battalion
attached to the 81 Division in Lagos. Its insignia is a camel and since that was established it had always had a live camel as its mascot.


Shortly after Camel Rakumi took its position at the far end of the parade ground, the battalion moved towards adorning it with its uniform so as to really belong to the force. A pink and red cloth, which was the colour of the battalion, was thrown
around the camel while same colours were tied around its legs.


A soldier was assigned to the camel
to give it direction, while over 100
soldiers filed out to join in the
parade heralding the decoration of
the camel with the rank of a
corporal.
The induction, Daily Sun learnt
makes the camel a full-fledged
member of the Nigerian Army
entitled to everything a soldier is
entitled to.
Before November 9, 2010 when
Camel Rakumi was posted to the 65
Battalion, it underwent military
training at the Nigerian Army depot
in Zaria and was given a thorough
orientation about the battalion he
was to serve in.
It was learnt that the camel has a
history with the Nigerian Army, as it
was born on January 15, 2006, a
date set aside for the Armed Forces
Remembrance Day.
It was born in Sokoto into the family
of the Sokoto Caliphate animal
husbandry and attended the
Sultanate Durbar Racing School
between 2007 and 2008
The army said that before recruiting
Camel Rakumi into the force, it
discovered that the animal had
distinguished itself as a very strong,
energetic and fastest in its class.
The force told Daily Sun that the
Caliphate Chief Rider confirmed this
as it was discovered that the chief
rider introduced the Camel to
Durbar Racing and since then, the
camel had continued to
distinguished itself in most of the
racing contests organized by the
Caliphate.
He won the fastest runner award
during the Durbar hosted by the
Sultan of Sokoto in honour of
President Umar Bashir of Sudan.
He also won award as best behaved
and adored camel during the 2009
Eid el Kabir Durbar in Sokoto.
It was these qualities that
distinguished the camel and enabled
the Nigerian Army to bring him into
their fold and decorate him with the
rank of a corporal.
Regiments of the British Army have
long been prone to adopting
animals as their mascots. Dogs,
goats and ponies are just a few that
have served as mascots in the
British Army, but the earliest
recorded event was that of a goat
belonging to the Royal Welch. It
ended up leading the Welsh
regimental Colour off the battlefield
at the end of the Battle of Bunker Hill.
Since then, it was gathered, a goat
has always served with the
Battalion. In 1884, Queen Victoria
presented the regiment, then called
the Royal Welch Fusiliers, with a
Kashmir goat from her royal herd,
and a tradition was started. The
British Monarchy has presented an
unbroken series of Kashmir goats to
the Royal Welch Fusiliers from the
Crown ’s own royal herd.
In Nigeria, the tradition of military
mascot was copied from the British
Army, with a little modification.
The Nigerian Army adopts mascots
based on the battle efficiency of the
troop. For instance, the elite Brigade
of Guards adopted the Scorpion
which it has on its badge to illustrate
its potency, while the 3rd Armoured
Division Jos, Plateau State assumed
the Octopus as its Mascot to give a
fearful posture to the Division.
The 1st Divison Kaduna picked a
white horse as its mascot to
illustrate its strength while the 82
Division in Enugu adopted a flying
dragon to show its prowess.
Every division, brigade or battalion
in the Nigerian Army adopts a
mascot that suits its operation and
indeed defines its potency in the
battlefield.
The 81 Division Lagos did not adopt
any animal as its mascot; rather, it
adopted a palm tree to illustrate its
area of operation, but being and
infantry division, its battalion had
adopted the camel as its mascot.

www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/jan/04/national-04-1-2011-0014.htm

https://www.nairaland.com/578832/unbelievable-camel-promoted-corporal-nigerian

A horse was once a captain in the army.
he was known as Captain Doki..

Material!!!!!!
Matete!!!

Some wet wailing wailer wallowing with witchy witlow will think Camel is actually a ruminant.

A rebirth is ongoing in this country.

So proud of this change

ZACHIE:

Some wet wailing wailer wallowing with witchy witlow will think Camel is actually a ruminant.

A rebirth is ongoing in this country.

So proud of this change

Are you for real

Some formations take advantage of geographical features in their area of responsibility to stage a more interesting physical examination.

The Brigade of Guards usually climb the Aso Rock monolith.

[size=14pt]Over 600 Military Officers Climb Aso Rock for Fitness Test[/size]

20 Dec 2013

By Senator Iroegbu 

Over 600 officers and soldiers of the Guards Brigade, which is a special arm of the Nigerian Army in charge of the Presidency Friday  participated in this year's Ascent to Aso Rock to determine their fitness and readiness to continue with the task next year.

The Commander, Guards Brigade, Major-General Emmanuel Atewe, while declaring the event open Friday  morning at the feet of the Aso Rock, Asokoro Abuja, warning that failure to climb the rocky hill is an invitation to dismissal from the Guards.

Atewe said that Aso Rock climbing summarises all the training for the whole year and every member of the guards,  including the officers and soldiers are expected to climb the 34,000 feet hill top.
Details to follow

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/over-600-military-officers-climb-aso-rock-for-fitness-test/167008/

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/over-600-military-officers-climb-aso-rock-for-fitness-test/167008/




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgM1y0aOuh8

Great...cant see camel

Keep the spirits high !!! Show those boko boys , let them know say no be sherekanbia ?!!

Isnt the camel supposed to be a ruminant animal

Camel leading the way since day immemorial

Mtscheww. I didn't see anything

I see

I

Ok keep enjoying it

Ok

.

where the f*ck is d camel?

so sweet, in the next 15 years this camel Rakumi could be promoted to the rank of lieutenant and will be commanding over 100 soldiers. JUMAA'T KAREEM,IT'S LADYF BOYFRIEND AGAIN.

kk

still lookn 4 d camel still lookn 4 d camel

Op Am I d one confusing myself abi na u dey confuse me? . Is it camel as in animal(beast of burden) or na human being dey bear camel? (Rakunmi) . Me I know see any camel for the pix u uploaded na.

K

interesting!

rhema4u:
I see

Trying to cheat a lady by taking her undies

Rayman5:
still lookn 4 d camel still lookn 4 d camel

Can someone please point out the camel for me.

have been dreaming of a true love's kiss