The military officer who was abducted on Tuesday morning after the attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) on Tuesday morning, has been rescued.
The officer was simply identified as Major CL Datong.
Recall that Chronicle NG reported that heavily armed bandits invaded the NDA barracks, killed two officers and kidnapped one.
A Lieutenant Commander simply identified as Wulah and Flying Lieutenant CM Okoronwo were identified as the victims who were shot dead during the invasion of Afaka barracks of the NDA.
Chronicle NG had reported how bandits broke into the prestigious military institution around 1am.
A source within the barracks said the attackers struck when many were asleep.
The source had said security was beefed up to prevent the armed men from escaping with their victims.
It was gathered that one Major Datong was kidnapped in the incident while an officer simply identified as 2nd Lieutenant Onah sustained gun shot injury and is currently receiving treatment at NDA hospital.
In a comforting twist, the Nigerian Army on September 17 confirmed that Major Datong has been rescued from his abductors, Colonel Ezindu Idimah, deputy director Army Public Relations, 1 Division said in a statement..
“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.”
Editor’s Note:
Chronicle NG wishes to apologise for it’s earlier report that said Major CL Datong was found dead. This report was hinge on intelligence that turned out to be false.
