Major Christopher Datong
Army rescues officer abducted by bandits during attack on NDA campus
Army officer abducted by gunmen who attacked the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) campus in Kaduna, in August, Major Christopher Datong, has been rescued alive by troops.
Gunmen suspected to be bandits stormed the campus of the NDA in Kaduna on August 24, this year, killing two officers on duty, while Major Datong was abducted.
Colonel Ezindu Idimah, Deputy Director Army Public Relations,1 Division, Nigerian Army, disclosed in a statement Friday night.
According to Idimah, the officer was rescued after troops overpowered the bandits in an exchange of fire.
He said, though Major Datong sustained minor injury, he has been treated at a medical facility and handed over to NDA.
“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 (and) overwhelmed them (with) 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 text of Colonel Idimah’s statement read.
Continuing, the Army said: “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.”
