Bama Resettles 2,000+ Communities as Peace Returns, Army Says

Bama, Borno – More than 2,000 displaced families have been resettled in the Bama Local Government Area, according to Major General Tosin Ayoola, commander of the 21 Special Armour Brigade. The announcement was made during a site visit by journalists assessing the security and humanitarian situation in the region on Thursday.

The commander said the resettlement marks a “significant milestone” in the North‑East’s stabilisation effort, as areas that were previously under insurgent control are gradually returning to normalcy. He credited a combination of kinetic and non‑kinetic operations for the progress, including the clearance of terrorist hideouts, sustained patrols along major routes, and community‑engagement programmes aimed at rebuilding confidence among the local population.

“The gradual return of peace has enabled the resettlement of over 2,000 communities within the Bama axis. Families are returning, farmlands are being cultivated again, and social and economic activities are steadily resuming,” Ayoola said.

Troops have maintained a strong presence in vulnerable settlements and along key transportation corridors to deter any resurgence of insecurity. The military also continues to support humanitarian assistance and reconstruction projects in liberated villages. According to the commander, the relocation of internally displaced persons from camps back to their original communities has been carried out in phases, with basic security conditions monitored throughout.

Ayoola affirmed that Operation Hadin Kai will persist in consolidating recent gains. Ongoing clearance operations and stabilisation activities remain essential to ensuring lasting peace and preventing insurgent groups from re‑establishing a foothold in cleared areas.

The commander praised the resilience of returning residents and urged them to cooperate with security agencies by providing timely information that could aid ongoing operations and safeguard the fragile peace in Bama.

The resettlement effort reflects broader federal and regional initiatives aimed at restoring stability and encouraging the return of displaced populations across Nigeria’s North‑East, a region that has endured years of insurgency and humanitarian crisis. Continued monitoring and support from both security forces and humanitarian partners will be critical to sustaining the momentum and achieving long‑term reconstruction.