The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division, Nigerian Army, and Commander Sector 2 Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Major General BP Koughna, has charged troops to maintain heightened vigilance, operational discipline, and a rapid response posture to effectively secure lives and property within their Areas of Responsibility.
Major General Koughna gave the directive during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters of 1 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Gusau, Zamfara State, from 20 to 21 January 2026.
According to a statement by Captain Yusuf Mohammed, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 1 Brigade Nigerian Army, Gusau, the visit commenced with an operational assessment tour to Bingi in Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State. During the visit, the GOC interacted with troops deployed in the area to boost morale and reinforce operational readiness.
While addressing troops at the garrison parade ground, Major General Koughna emphasised the importance of intelligence-driven operations and timely response to emerging security threats.
Accompanied by the Commander 1 Brigade, Brigadier General M. Jimoh, the GOC also visited a previously ambushed location to obtain first-hand situational awareness, assess troop disposition, and evaluate ongoing counter-threat measures.
At the Brigade Headquarters, Major General Koughna addressed officers and men, stressing the need for decisive command, firm leadership, and effective control of operations. He further directed commanders to prioritise troop welfare, particularly in the areas of administration, logistics, and personnel management, noting that these factors directly impact operational effectiveness.
The GOC received a comprehensive operational briefing from the Commanding Officer, 1 Brigade Intelligence Regiment, Major M. Abdulsalam. The briefing covered the prevailing security situation, threat assessment, ongoing operations, and future operational plans within the Brigade’s Area of Responsibility.
Those present at the briefing included the Chief of Staff, 1 Brigade, Colonel I.A.M. Enemakwu; the Garrison Commander, Lieutenant Colonel K.R. Elero; Lieutenant Colonel I. Ando; the Commanding Officers of 382 Artillery and 181 Workshop; the Operations Officer, Lieutenant Colonel P.I. Nnadi; as well as other principal staff officers of the Brigade.
Highlights of the visit included inspection of the ambush site at Bingi, an operational briefing at Headquarters 1 Brigade, interaction with officers and soldiers, and inspection of key operational and administrative facilities. These included the newly constructed 1 Brigade Commander’s residence, the Chief of Army Staff Guest House, the Brigade Administrative Complex, and ongoing construction projects within the Nigerian Army Cantonment, Gusau.
