Residents of Mansur community in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State have begun returning to their homes following the clearance of bandits by troops of the Nigerian Army.
The development was confirmed in a statement by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 33 Artillery Brigade, Lt. Oluwakemi Fagbolagun.
The community had been deserted since February 26, 2026, after armed assailants invaded the area, forcing residents to flee.
However, after nearly two months in displacement, villagers started returning on April 22.
Fagbolagun said the attacks led to the abandonment of homes and disruption of farming activities across the community.
She explained that the return of residents followed a series of coordinated military operations, including Operation Bugun Karkanda III, initiated by Army Headquarters and executed by troops of the 33 Artillery Brigade.
According to her, the exercise received additional support from Operation Wutan Daji, which targeted terrorist hideouts across the region.
She noted that the operations resulted in the clearance of criminal elements from several forests and communities spanning Bauchi, Plateau and Taraba states.
Areas recovered during the operations include Yankari Game Reserve, Bogwas and Rimi in Bauchi State, as well as parts of Plateau and Taraba states where troops also secured key locations.
The army spokesperson added that the success of the operations paved the way for the liberation of previously occupied communities, including Mansur.
She further disclosed that the military has now entered a consolidation phase, involving the handover of cleared areas to relevant security agencies and government authorities to maintain stability and facilitate the safe return of displaced persons.
Fagbolagun described scenes of jubilation as residents trooped back to their homes, inspecting damaged property and clearing overgrown vegetation.
Community leaders, she said, commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, for restoring peace to the area.
Meanwhile, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, had earlier revealed that thousands of bandits were neutralised during recent joint security operations across affected parts of the state.
The governor attributed the success to collaborative efforts involving the Nigerian Air Force, other armed forces, intelligence agencies and local vigilante groups, following appeals to President Bola Tinubu over worsening insecurity in the region.