Major General Bemgba Paul Koughna has formally assumed command as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division of the Nigerian Army and Commander, Sector 2 Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA.
The handover ceremony took place at the Headquarters 8 Division, Giginya Cantonment, Sokoto, where Major General Koughna took over from Major General Ibikunle Ademola Ajose, whose tenure recorded notable achievements in counter-banditry and security operations across the North West region.
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 consolidate on the gains recorded by his predecessor and intensify efforts aimed at improving security and stability within the Division’s area of responsibility.
Earlier in his valedictory remarks, the outgoing GOC, Major General Ajose, congratulated his successor and described him as a seasoned and accomplished officer. He expressed optimism that Major General Koughna’s extensive operational experience and understanding of the region’s security dynamics would further enhance ongoing efforts against terrorism and banditry.
Major General Koughna, the 11th GOC of 8 Division, is a highly decorated senior officer of the Nigerian Army. Born on 20 November 1972, he is a member of the 43rd Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), where he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1996. 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 Certificat d’Études Françaises (1er Degré) from France.
His distinguished career spans several key 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 prior to his latest appointment.
Major General Koughna has also participated in numerous international peacekeeping and conflict resolution missions, including 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 played leading roles in operations such as Operation Restore Peace in Bakura Forest and Operation HADIN KAI in Buni Gari, where his outstanding performance against Boko Haram terrorists earned him the Nigerian Army Outstanding Tactical Command Medal.
Beyond his military career, the new GOC is an accomplished author, with publications including Rivulets of Wisdom (2005) and Battle Leadership (2024), which focus on leadership and strategic thought.
Married with three children, Major General Koughna combines his professional responsibilities with personal interests such as reading and squash.
With his assumption of command, expectations are high that Major General Koughna’s experience, strategic vision and leadership will further strengthen security operations and promote lasting stability across the North West region.
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