By John Ikani
Nigerian Army officer, Major Christopher Datong, has regained his freedom after 25 days in the captivity of bandits who invaded the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna State.
Recall that on August 24, the NDA was attacked, with two officers killed and one other abducted.
The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Col Ezindu Idimah, in a statement issued in Kaduna, said the officer, initially reported killed, was rescued in the late hours of Friday, September 17.
According to the spokesman, the Division, in conjunction with the Air Task Force, the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies, conducted the operation which led to the rescue of the officer who was held captive for 25 days.
He added that 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.
“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 officers in the NDA on 24 August 2021,” Idimah said.
The Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Defence Academy, Maj. Bashir Jajira, also confirmed the rescue of the officer.
Shock and concerns greeted the August 24th security breach of the NDA, with Nigerians wondering if any one is really safe if bandits could operate so freely inside an elite military institution.
Reacting to the incident, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor declared that the Nigeria Army is not ruling out an inside collaborator in the attack on the NDA.
The CDS said the incident was worrisome and the military is looking into it with keen interest, adding that the attack was like robbers entering a house with the knowledge of an insider.
The rescue of Major Christopher is expected to boost findings on the breach and forestall any similar occurrence in the future.
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