Major General Bemgba Paul Koughna has officially assumed command as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division of the Nigerian Army and Commander of Sector 2 Joint Task Force (North West) Operation FANSAN YAMMA.
According to a statement signed by the acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 1 Div Nigeria Army, Sector 2 Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba and made available to Channel Network Afrique, CNA indicates that the formal handover ceremony took place at the Division’s Headquarters in Giginya Cantonment, Sokoto. Maj. Gen. Koughna succeeds Major General Ibikunle Ademola Ajose, who led the division through a period of significant counter-banditry operations in the North West.
A Commitment to Regional Stability
In his inaugural address, Maj. Gen. Koughna expressed gratitude to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, for the appointment. He pledged to build upon the foundation laid by his predecessor, focusing on enhancing security and restoring stability to the region.
The outgoing GOC, Maj. Gen. Ajose, praised his successor’s operational track record and leadership acumen. He expressed confidence that Koughna’s deep understanding of the North West’s security dynamics would further elevate the division’s fight against terrorism.
Profile of a Strategic Leader
A member of the 43rd Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Maj. Gen. Koughna was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1996. His academic background is extensive, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the NDA and a Master’s degree in National Security and War Studies from the National Defence University in Islamabad, Pakistan.
His career is marked by high-level command and staff appointments, including:
- Commanding Officer, 26 Battalion (Sokoto)
- Defence Adviser, Nigerian High Commission in Islamabad
- Commander, 27 Task Force Brigade
- Deputy Chief of Operations, Army Headquarters
Operational Excellence
Maj. Gen. Koughna is a highly decorated officer with vast experience in international peacekeeping and domestic security. He served in the ECOWAS Monitoring Group in Sierra Leone, the Bakassi Peninsula, and the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Domestically, he is recognized for his tactical success in Operation Restore Peace (Bakura Forest) and Operation HADIN KAI. His efforts in the North East earned him the Nigerian Army Outstanding Tactical Command Medal for his role in combating Boko Haram.
Intellectual Contributions
Beyond the battlefield, the new GOC is a published author. His works include “Rivulets of Wisdom” (2005) and the 2024 publication “Battle Leadership,” which serves as a guide for contemporary military commanders.
As the 11th GOC of 8 Division, Maj. Gen. Koughna’s tenure begins at a critical time for regional security, with expectations high for a renewed offensive against banditry and insurgency in the North West.
