By Musa Ubandawaki, Sokoto

SOKOTO:–Major General Bemgha Paul Koughna has formally assumed duty as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division, Nigerian Army, and Commander Sector 2 Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, signaling a renewed national push to consolidate security gains in one of Nigeria’s most volatile theatres.

The handover ceremony took place at the Headquarters of 8 Division, Giginya Cantonment, Sokoto, where Major General Koughna succeeded Major General Ibikunle Ademola Ajose. Ajose’s tenure was widely credited with strengthening counter-banditry operations and improving civil military cooperation across the NorthWest.

In his inaugural address, Major General Koughna expressed profound appreciation to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, for the confidence reposed in him.

He pledged to sustain and expand ongoing operations, stressing that the security of lives, livelihoods and national stability would remain his top priority.

“I am committed to building on the solid foundation laid by my predecessor and working with all stakeholders to ensure lasting peace and stability in the North West,” he said.

In his valedictory remarks, the outgoing GOC, Major General Ajose, congratulated his successor and described him as a seasoned and disciplined commander with deep operational insight.

He expressed confidence that Major General Koughna’s leadership would further strengthen the fight against terrorism, banditry and other forms of violent crime threatening national cohesion.

Major General Koughna is one of the Nigerian Army’s most decorated senior officers, known for his strategic depth, operational effectiveness and unwavering dedication to national and international security.

Born on 20 November 1972, he is a member of the 43rd Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), commissioned in 1996.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics (Honours) from the NDA, a Master’s degree in National Security and War Studies from the National Defence University, Islamabad, Pakistan, and a Certificat d’Études Françaises (1er Degré) from France.

His distinguished career spans critical command, staff and instructional appointments, including Assistant Deputy Military Secretary at Army Headquarters, Senior Instructor at the NDA, 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, before his appointment as the 11th GOC of 8 Division.

Operationally, Major General Koughna has served in some of the most challenging theatres in West and Central Africa. These include the ECOWAS Monitoring Group in Sierra Leone, Operation Harmony IV in the Bakassi Peninsula, and the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Domestically, he has led high impact operations such as Operation Restore Peace in Bakura Forest and Operation HADIN KAI in Buni Gari, where his leadership in counter-insurgency operations earned him the Nigerian Army Outstanding Tactical Command Medal.

Beyond the battlefield, Major General Koughna is a respected military intellectual and author.

His works include Rivulets of Wisdom (2005), which explores leadership and personal development, and Battle Leadership (2024), a practical guide for military leaders grounded in combat experience.

Married with three children, he balances his professional responsibilities with a passion for reading and squash, reflecting a disciplined and well rounded personality.

As Commander of 8 Division and Sector 2 Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Major General Koughna brings renewed strategic focus, operational experience and resolve to the North-m West.

His appointment underscores the Nigerian Army’s determination to secure the region, reinforce national stability and restore public confidence in the face of evolving security challenges.