By Joy Odor Reportcircle News
The Nigerian Army has redrawn the command map of its most volatile North-West theatre, installing a battle-tested strategist at the helm of a division central to the fight against banditry and terrorism.
At a formal handover ceremony held at Giginya Cantonment, Sokoto, Major General Bemgba Paul Koughna assumed Command as the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 8 Division Nigerian Army, and Commander, Sector 2 Joint Task Force (North-West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA.
He succeeded Major General Ibikunle Ademola Ajose, whose tenure recorded notable gains in stabilising parts of the region.
The transition marks more than a routine change of guard.
It signals a renewed operational push in a theatre where security dynamics remain fluid and unforgiving.
In his inaugural address, Major General Koughna expressed gratitude to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, for the confidence placed in him, pledging to consolidate existing gains while sharpening the Division’s response to emerging threats.
“I am committed to building on the achievements recorded and advancing the mission to restore peace and stability in the North-West,” he said, outlining a leadership approach anchored on professionalism, coordination and operational focus.
Earlier, in his valedictory remarks, the outgoing GOC, Major General Ajose, congratulated his successor and expressed confidence in his ability to raise the operational tempo.
He described Koughna as a seasoned commander with deep insight into the region’s security challenges, noting that his experience would be critical in sustaining pressure on criminal networks and extremist elements.
Major General Koughna arrives with a formidable résumé.
Born on 20 November 1972, he is a member of the 43rd Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1996.
Over nearly three decades of service, he has built a reputation for strategic clarity, operational depth and steady leadership under pressure.
Academically, the new GOC holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics (Honours) from the NDA, a Master of Science in National Security and War Studies from the National Defence University, Islamabad, and a Certificat d’Études Françaises (1er Degré) from France, a blend that reflects both analytical rigour and international exposure.
His career has spanned critical command, staff and instructional appointments.
These include 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.
His latest appointment makes him the 11th GOC of 8 Division.
Operationally, Koughna is no stranger to complex battlefields.
Internationally, he served with the ECOWAS Monitoring Group in Sierra Leone, contributing to the stabilisation of a war-torn nation; Operation Harmony IV in the Bakassi Peninsula, where diplomacy and force intersected in resolving territorial disputes; and the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, one of Africa’s most volatile theatres.
At home, he has led decisive operations including Operation Restore Peace in Bakura Forest, dismantling entrenched criminal camps, and Operation HADIN KAI in Buni Gari, where he spearheaded counter-insurgency actions against terrorist groups.
His leadership in the North-East earned him the Nigerian Army Outstanding Tactical Command Medal for gallantry and effectiveness against Boko Haram.
Beyond the battlefield, Koughna is also a thinker and teacher of the profession of arms.
He is the author of “Rivulets of Wisdom” (2005), a reflection on leadership and personal development, and “Battle Leadership” (2024), a practical guide blending military theory with combat experience.
Married with three children, the new GOC balances his demanding career with a passion for reading and squash, pursuits that mirror his intellectual curiosity and competitive drive.
As he takes charge of 8 Division and Sector 2 of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, expectations are high.
With banditry, terrorism and organised crime still testing the limits of security in the North-West, the Army is betting on experience, discipline and strategic precision.
For communities longing for peace and for troops on the front lines, the message from Sokoto is clear: a new commander is in charge and the battle plan is being sharpened.
