The Nigerian Army 8 Division, Sokoto, has concluded its 2026 Inter-Brigade Combat Proficiency Competition, aimed at testing troops’ physical fitness, combat readiness and operational effectiveness.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 8 Division, Major General Bemgha Paul Koughna, said the competition provided an opportunity to assess the endurance, discipline and operational preparedness of participating troops.
Koughna said training remained the foundation of military professionalism, regimentation and discipline, stressing that troops must maintain a high level of preparedness to respond effectively to security threats.
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“Training is the bedrock of the military profession and the cradle upon which regimentation and discipline are formed. Competitions like this assess troops’ physical fitness and combat readiness, which remains the primary objective,” he explained.
The GOC said the competition would further strengthen troops’ endurance, physical fitness and operational effectiveness, particularly amid the volatile security situation within the division’s Area of Responsibility.
“To mitigate criminal activities, physically fit, combat-ready and well-motivated troops are critical,” he emphasised.
Koughna said the competition was conducted in line with the directive of Army Headquarters to intensify training in accordance with the Chief of Army Staff’s Command Philosophy.
He stressed that combat readiness remained central to the Nigerian Army’s operational philosophy, noting that the first pillar of the Chief of Army Staff’s Command Philosophy focused on maintaining a force prepared to respond effectively to security challenges.
According to him, the competition would contribute to building a cohesive, resilient and combat-ready force capable of responding effectively to emerging threats.
Koughna also underscored the importance of individual physical and mental fitness to combat effectiveness, particularly among junior commanders responsible for leading troops.
“The soldier, as an individual, is the first weapon of war, and the primary requirement of any soldier is to be fit to fight. Therefore, to effectively lead men, it fundamentally requires junior commanders to maintain peak physical and mental fitness,” he said.
The GOC commended the participating formations, umpires and judges for their resilience and commitment to the successful conduct of the competition.
He also appreciated the Headquarters 8 Division Garrison for organising the event and commended the Sokoto State Government and residents for their support.
The competition featured a 10-kilometre combat run, 4×400-metre combat relay race, weapon handling, map reading, swimming, obstacle crossing, endurance drills and other tactical combat exercises.
At the end of the competition, 8 Division Garrison emerged overall winner, while 1 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Gusau, finished second and 17 Brigade placed third.
