The Nigerian Army has urged senior military personnel across formations under the 8 Division to demonstrate exemplary leadership, professionalism and discipline as the 2026 Inter-Brigade Competition gets underway in Katsina State.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division and Commander of Sector 2, Joint Task Force (North-West), Operation Fansan Yamma, Maj.-Gen. Bemgba Koughna, said the annual exercise remains a critical avenue for developing leadership skills and improving operational effectiveness among troops.
Koughna, represented by the Chief of Staff of the 17 Brigade, Col. Nehemiah Yakubu, noted that beyond competition, the event serves as a forum for building stronger bonds among personnel, enhancing combat readiness and encouraging a spirit of healthy rivalry.
He explained that the programme was structured to evaluate the capacity of senior non-commissioned officers while providing commanders with the opportunity to assess challenges encountered during previous exercises and improve on them.
According to him, participants who distinguish themselves during the competition will earn the opportunity to represent the division at higher military contests later in the year.
The GOC also addressed ongoing security operations within the division’s area of responsibility, stating that troops remain fully committed to tracking down those behind the killing of retired Maj.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information.
He said the incident had further strengthened the resolve of security personnel to intensify operations and ensure accountability.
“Our personnel remain actively deployed in various operations, and efforts are ongoing to ensure those responsible for the attack are brought to justice,” he said.
In his remarks, Commander of the 17 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Ishaya Ibrahim, described the competition as an important component of the Army’s capacity-building efforts, aimed at nurturing teamwork, discipline and mutual understanding among personnel.
Represented by the Commanding Officer of the 35 Battalion, Lt.-Col. Okorie Obasi, Ibrahim said the exercise would reinforce core military values and promote unity across participating formations.
He expressed confidence that the event would provide participants with an opportunity to showcase their skills while strengthening professional relationships within the division.
The week-long competition is being hosted by the Headquarters of the 17 Brigade and features contingents from the 1 Brigade, Gusau; 17 Brigade, Katsina; 8 Division Garrison, Sokoto; 48 Engineer Brigade; and other affiliated units under the 8 Division.
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