About 100 house holds of the first batch of 300 Nigerian refugees who flee their home at Pulka in Gwoza Local government areas of Borno State to Cameroon 11 year ago have returned to their heritage homes in Gwoza Local government areas of Borno State.
They returned on Tuesday, January 27,2026,
from the painful exile indue by sudden displacements occasioned by ravaging insurgency. Their return marked the commencement of the fourth phase of a sustained repatriation exercise.
Their return was made possible by the unrelenting efforts of troops of Joint Task Force North East Operations HADIN KAI ( OPHK), and ther security agencies, the Borno State government, the Cameroon government and the perseverance of the refugees.
Repatriation exercise began from Minawawu in the Republic of Cameroon, passing through Moruwa before entry into Kirawa, Nigeria. It was conducted in line with approved humanitarian and security protocols, reflecting the strong civil-military cooperation that now defines stabilisation efforts in the North East.
Officials of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) coordinated the process alongside the Borno State Government and security agencies.
The journey for the families to their homes of origin represented not merely a border crossing, but an emotional passage from displacement to rebuilding their livelihood after 11 years in IDP camp in Cameroon republic.
They were grateful to Governor Babagana Umara Zulum whose visit to their camp in Cameroon on 8 December 2025 had resulted into their peaceful return. During the visit the Governor had assured of their voluntary, safe, and dignified return process.
They paid gratitude to Nigerian troops whose unrelenting efforts have drove the terrorists and restored relative peace in the area.
Chairman of the Borno State Sub-Committee on Repatriation, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe described the exercise as a significant achievement in the lifetime of the present administration.
According to him, “this homecoming is a testament to our collective resolve. We are not just moving people; we are restoring lives and reigniting hope in our communities,” Wakilbe stated.
The Governor of Cameroon Far North Region, Minjinyawa Bakari, who personally witnessed the repatriation exercise and bade the refugees farewell, reaffirmed bilateral cooperation in addressing the humanitarian impact of insurgency around Lake Chad.
At Pulka , the refugees were highly received and welcomed by local authorities and security officials. Some of the returnees in gratitude to God knelt to touch the soil of their homeland; others offered prayers, while children many of whom had spent most of their lives in refugees camp in Cameroon looked at their ancestral home with curiosity.
Generous sum of ₦500,000 in cash was given to each household head with an additional ₦50,000 to each wife to facilitate smooth start up .
The Borno State Government provided them with mattresses and wrappers, while the National Commission for Refugees supplied essential food items, including rice, millet, beans, and cooking oil.
For the Borno State Government this phase of the exercise is a broader strategy to stabilise resettled communities, rebuild infrastructure, and restore livelihoods across insurgency-affected communities.
Other personalities that accompanied the Chairman of the Borno State Sub-Committee on Repatriation, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe included members of House of Assembly representing Kaga, Gwoza and Gulumba Woloji, Honourable Mustafa Alibe Benishiekh, Buba Abatcha, Baba Shehu Gulumba, Chairman Gwoza local government, Abba Shehu Timta and official of National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons Mr. Murdakai Titus.
Spokesperson Operation HADIN KAI Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba said on arrival at Maraban Kirawa, the delegation and returnees were warmly received by the Commander, 26 Task Force Brigade under Sector 1, Brigadier General Nasiru Abdullahi before being safely escorted to the designated reception centre in Pulka.
At the reception centre, over a hundred households were registered and provided with immediate relief support. Each household received financial assistance, wrappers and mattresses from the Borno State Government, food items from the Federal Government, and a cash from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to ease temporary accommodation challenges.
The returnees will remain at the centre to undergo comprehensive medical screening, while children will receive routine immunisation jointly administered by military medical personnel and officials of the Gwoza Local Government Primary Healthcare Unit.
Following the successful reception, the delegation was escorted to Gwoza and is expected to return to the Republic of Cameroon to facilitate the repatriation of additional batches of Nigerian refugees.
The Theatre Command confirms that the operation was conducted hitch-free. While the security environment remains calm but fluid, troops continue to maintain high morale, operational readiness, and fighting efficiency.
He also said that Operation HADIN KAI remains steadfast in its resolve to secure communities, protect civilians, and support humanitarian and government-led initiatives that restore hope, rebuild lives, and return displaced Nigerians safely home.