An Army major, Christopher Datong, who was abducted at the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, has regained freedom after about three weeks in the custody of bandits.
In a statement by the deputy spokesperson of the Defence Headquarters, Ezindu Idimah, the senior officer was rescued following collaborative efforts by security agents.
Major Datong was abducted on August 24, 2021, during an attack at the Academy that left two officers dead.
There were speculations on social media that the senior officer was executed.
It was gathered that the kidnappers had requested a ransom of N200 million.
During the attack, witnesses said the bandits came in large numbers in the early hours of the day.
In a statement issued in the early hours of Saturday, Idimah, spokesman of the 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, said that the rescue was possible through a collaborative mission carried out by the 1 Division, in conjunction with the air task force, the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies.
Idimah said Datong sustained a minor injury during the operation and was treated at a medical facility before he was handed over to the authorities of the NDA “for further action”.
The statement read: “Following the directive of the Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs for 1 Division Nigerian Army in conjunction with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and all security agencies to conduct decisive operations to rescue Major CL Datong who was abducted at Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Permanent Site on 24 August 2021 and find the perpetrators dead or alive, the Division in conjunction with the Air Task Force, Department of State Services and other security agencies, immediately swung into action by conducting operations in the Afaka general area to find and rescue the officer.
“The operations were being conducted based on several leads received from various sources regarding the abductors and likely locations the officer was being held.
“The operations which have been sustained since the abduction of the officer proved quite successful and led to the destruction of several identified bandits’ camps in the Afaka- Birnin Gwari general area and neutralization of scores of bandits particularly, in the late hours of today, 17 September, 2021, the troops arrived at a camp suspected to be the location where Maj CL Datong was being held.
“At the camp, the troops exchanged fire with the bandits for overwhelmed them superior fire. In the process, the gallant troops were able to rescue the abducted officer.
“However, the officer sustained a minor injury but has been treated in a medical facility and handed over to NDA for further action.
“The Division wishes to commend the efforts of the NAF, DSS , Nigerian Police and patriotic Nigerians for their invaluable support which contributed to the success of this operation.
“Our operations will continue until we capture or neutralize the assailants that killed two (2) officers in the NDA on 24 August 2021.”
Aside the officers killed and kidnapped, some others sustained gunshot injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the NDA hospital.
The attack on the military facility came amidst heightened insecurity in the North-West with Kaduna State at the epicentre.
