Christopher Datong, the military officer who was abducted
when bandits attacked the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna, has been
rescued by security forces after 24 days in captivity.
The bandits had attacked the military training institution
on August 24, 2021, killing two officers, injuring one other, while Datong was
abducted.
In a statement released in the wee hours of Saturday, Ezindu
Idimah, spokesman of the 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, announced that the
abducted major had regained his freedom.
He said this was possible through a collaborative rescue
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 reads: “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.”
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