By Harriet Tornguvan
Major General Bemgba Paul Koughna has formally assumed duties 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 of 8 Division, Giginya Cantonment, Sokoto.
He takes 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 appreciation to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, for the confidence reposed in him. He pledged to consolidate the gains recorded under his predecessor and intensify efforts aimed at enhancing security and stability within the Division’s area of responsibility.
Major General Koughna is a seasoned and 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 (Honours) from the NDA, a Master’s degree in National Security and War Studies from the National Defence University, Islamabad, Pakistan, as well as a Certificat d’Études Françaises (1er Degré) from France.
His distinguished career spans key command, staff and instructional appointments, including Assistant Deputy Military Secretary at Army Headquarters, Senior Instructor at the Nigerian Defence Academy, 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, Department of Army Operations. He is the 11th GOC of 8 Division.
Major General Koughna has also served extensively in peacekeeping and conflict management missions across West and Central Africa. These include the ECOWAS Monitoring Group mission in Sierra Leone, Operation Harmony IV in the Bakassi Peninsula, and the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Domestically.
Additionally, he has played critical roles in high-impact operations such as Operation Restore Peace in Bakura Forest and Operation HADIN KAI in Buni Gari, where he spearheaded counter-insurgency efforts against terrorist groups. His gallantry earned him the Nigerian Army Outstanding Tactical Command Medal for his role in operations against Boko Haram insurgents in the North East.
Beyond the battlefield, Major General Koughna is an accomplished author with publications including Rivulets of Wisdom (2005), which focuses on leadership and personal development, and Battle Leadership (2024), a practical guide for military leadership.
Married with three children, Major General Koughna combines his professional responsibilities with a commitment to personal development, with interests in reading and squash.
As he assumes command of 8 Division and Sector 2 Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Major General Koughna brings vast experience, strategic insight and renewed determination, with high expectations that his leadership will further reinforce security and stability across the North West region.
Earlier, the outgoing GOC, Major General Ajose, congratulated his successor and commended his wealth of operational experience and leadership capacity. He expressed optimism that Major General Koughna’s deep understanding of the region’s security landscape would further strengthen the fight against terrorism and banditry.
