Army’s 8 Division Hosts Air Force War College to Boost Air Power Strategy in North West
Army’s 8 Division Hosts Air Force War College to Boost Air Power Strategy in North West
Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto
The Headquarters 8 Division Nigerian Army and Sector 2 Operation FANSAN YAMMA has hosted participants of the Air Force War College Course 12/2026, as part of a National Study Tour designed to enhance the strategic use of air power for national security and development.
In a statement issued to newsmen, the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, said the visit “serves as a critical link between state-level operations and the strategic deployment of air power in safeguarding national security.”
This year’s study tour runs under the theme “State Resources and Air Power: National Development in Northwest Nigeria in Focus.”_ According to Lt Col Osoba, the theme explores how air power capabilities can be leveraged to improve security and drive socio-economic progress across the region.
The Commandant, Air Force War College, Air Vice Marshal Gambo Mbaka, told officers at 8 Division that participants were split into three teams for coordinated field engagements across the North West. “Team A is in Sokoto State, Team B went to Kebbi State while Team C is in Zamfara State,” he stated.
AVM Mbaka noted that the tour is meant to give participants firsthand exposure to the security dynamics of the North West. Lt Col Osoba quoted him as saying the exercise will “showcase the collaborative efforts of 8 Division Nigerian Army, Operation FANSAN YAMMA and other security agencies in countering security challenges in the North West.”
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On the value of the field engagement, the Commandant stressed the gap between theory and practice. “While classroom instruction in operational art and joint planning is foundational, direct engagement with institutions sharpens professional judgment and operational readiness,” AVM Mbaka said, according to the Army PRO.
The General Officer Commanding 8 Division, Major General Bemgba Koughna, was represented at the event by the Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Ibrahim Gambari. Lt Col Osoba said Brig Gen Gambari “reaffirmed the Division’s commitment to inter-agency cooperation and continuous professional development within the Armed Forces” while welcoming the delegation.
Lt Col Osoba added that key activities during the Sokoto leg included operational briefings on 8 Division and Operation FANSAN YAMMA, engagement with the Sokoto State Government on sub-national governance and security strategies, and a cultural visit to the Waziri Junaidu History and Culture Bureau to deepen participants’ understanding of the local context.
