The Nigerian Army has recorded another important leadership milestone with the formal assumption of command by Major General Bemgba Paul Koughna as the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 8 Division Nigerian Army, and Commander Sector 2 Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA.
The handover ceremony, held at the Headquarters 8 Division, Giginya Cantonment, Sokoto, marked a seamless transition of command as Major General Koughna took over from Major General Ibikunle Ademola Ajose, whose tenure was widely acknowledged for remarkable operational successes against banditry and other security threats across the North West.
In his inaugural address, Major General Koughna expressed appreciation to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, for the confidence reposed in him, describing his new appointment as both an honour and a responsibility. He assured officers and soldiers of his commitment to consolidating existing gains while strengthening operational effectiveness, professionalism and civil-military cooperation in the Division’s area of responsibility.
He emphasized that his leadership would focus on teamwork, innovation and sustained pressure on criminal elements, in line with the Nigerian Army’s mandate to protect lives, property and national sovereignty.
Earlier, the outgoing GOC, Major General Ajose, congratulated his successor and expressed confidence in his ability to build on the successes recorded by the Division. He described Major General Koughna as an experienced and capable leader whose deep understanding of the operational environment would further enhance security outcomes in the region.
Major General Koughna brings to his new role a wealth of experience, strategic depth and a distinguished service record. A member of the 43rd Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, he was commissioned in 1996 and has since built a career marked by professionalism, leadership and operational excellence.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from the NDA, a Master’s Degree in National Security and War Studies from the National Defence University, Islamabad, Pakistan, and a French language qualification from France.
Over the years, he has served in several key command, staff and instructional positions, including Commanding Officer 26 Battalion Sokoto, Defence Adviser at the Nigerian High Commission in Islamabad, Chief of Staff 6 Division, Commander 27 Task Force Brigade, Director of Civil-Military Affairs at Army Headquarters and Deputy Chief of Operations at Army Headquarters. He is the 11th GOC of 8 Division.
His operational experience spans both international peacekeeping and domestic security operations. He served with the ECOWAS Monitoring Group in Sierra Leone, participated in Operation Harmony IV in the Bakassi Peninsula, and was deployed with the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Within Nigeria, he played key roles in Operation Restore Peace in Bakura Forest and Operation HADIN KAI in Buni Gari, earning the Nigerian Army Outstanding Tactical Command Medal for his gallantry and leadership against Boko Haram terrorists.
Beyond his military achievements, Major General Koughna is also a respected author and mentor. His books, Rivulets of Wisdom and Battle Leadership, reflect his commitment to developing future leaders and promoting excellence within the profession of arms.
Married with three children, the new GOC is known for his balanced approach to leadership, combining operational rigor with intellectual depth and personal discipline.
With Major General Koughna now at the helm, 8 Division and Sector 2 Operation FANSAN YAMMA are poised for renewed momentum, strengthened security operations and sustained progress toward peace and stability across the North West.
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