Displaced Mansur People in Bauchi Return To Their Village After Military Clears Terrorist Hideout
By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini
Hundreds of residents streamed back to their village on Wednesday, ending two months of displacement after a major military operation flushed out armed terrorists from forest strongholds across three states.
The homecoming turned into a celebration, with men, women, and children singing and dancing as they reclaimed their ancestral homes. Many immediately began clearing overgrown bushes and inspecting their houses for damage.
Mansur had been a ghost town since February 26, 2026, when terrorists overran the community, forcing families to abandon their farms and homes. For nearly two months, the village lay empty.
The return was made possible by Operation BUGUN KARKANDA III, a clearance mission ordered by Army Headquarters and executed by the 33 Artillery Brigade. That operation followed an earlier phase, Operation WUTAN DAJI, designed to root out terrorists from their hideouts.
According to military statements, troops successfully cleared the dreaded Dajin Madam Forest in Plateau State and Kumbodoro Forest in Taraba State. Other cleared areas included the Yankari Game Reserve, Bogwas, and Rimi in Bauchi State, as well as Odere Forest, Shirnagol, Wanka, and Kukarlwa in Plateau State. In Taraba, Kumbodoro town and Angwan Jauro Sule were also secured.
With the clearance phase complete, the military moved to consolidate gains, handing over liberated towns to security agencies and government departments to maintain order and facilitate the return of displaced communities.
Local leaders praised the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, for swift action, adding that the residents’ return marks a fresh start. For many villagers, the sight of soldiers on patrol now brings reassurance rather than fear.