Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Bemgba Paul Koughna, has visited the Tidibale community in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State to offer reassurance and strengthen confidence among residents recently affected by bandit attacks. The visit, one of his first major field engagements since assuming command, comes amid ongoing efforts to stabilise rural areas in Nigeria’s volatile North‑West region.
Speaking directly to villagers who had been displaced by insecurity, Major General Koughna emphasised the Army’s “unwavering commitment” to their safety and the restoration of normal life after repeated violence. He explained that troops have been deployed and permanently stationed in Tidibale and surrounding areas to provide continuous protection and deter further incursions by bandits and other criminal elements.
According to a statement issued by Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for 8 Division, the visit also served as an assessment of the security situation and a morale‑boosting engagement with local leaders and residents who have endured months of fear and displacement. The GOC stressed that no part of the community will be allowed to remain under bandit control, framing the military presence as vital to restoring peaceful livelihoods.
Major General Koughna urged community members to support soldiers with timely and credible intelligence, repeating that security is a “collective responsibility” that requires cooperation between citizens and security agencies. He also assured them that the Army would respond swiftly to any credible threat or emergency.
Community reactions to the visit were overwhelmingly positive. Traditional leaders and residents welcomed the show of commitment from the Army, citing renewed hope that they can rebuild their lives and return to farming — the backbone of the local economy — without fear of renewed attacks. The Sarkin Arewa of Tidibale, Alhaji Ibrahim, thanked the Army chief for the visit, saying it “renewed our hope” and strengthened confidence in long‑term peace efforts.
The visit follows recent turmoil in the region, where notorious bandit leaders such as Bello Turji have issued threats and forced temporary evacuations from Tidibale and neighbouring settlements, prompting some residents to flee to nearby towns or even across the border in Niger. Authorities and analysts have noted that ongoing insecurity has disrupted farming cycles and deepened rural vulnerability, with local economies severely impacted.
In addition to the on‑ground reassurances in Tidibale, Nigerian Army operations across Sokoto State continue under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, aimed at degrading bandit and terror networks and enhancing civilian protection. Recent activities by the 8 Division and allied task forces have seen troops neutralise armed elements and recover weapons caches during coordinated missions, underscoring the broader security strategy in the North‑West.
Major General Koughna’s visit to Tidibale also included a briefing at the Isa Forward Operating Base, where military leaders reviewed tactical deployments and discussed plans to extend protection further across Isa LGA. Troop presence remains on high alert as security agencies continue to balance firm defensive measures with engagement of local communities to rebuild trust and ensure sustainable peace.
While the North‑West remains one of Nigeria’s most unstable regions outside the insurgency‑affected North‑East, the Nigerian Army’s reinforced posture and engagements such as the Tidibale visit aim to reduce the cycle of displacement, facilitate returns, and create conditions in which residents can pursue everyday activities — especially farming — without fear of attack.
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