By Emma Ogbuehi
Almost one month after he was abducted from the premises of the permanent site of the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), Afaka, Kaduna, a combined team of operatives from the Nigerian Army, Airforce and other security agencies have rescued Major Christopher Datong.
The military officer was abducted on August 24 when terrorists invaded the campus of Nigeria’s premier military institution.
Two of his colleagues were killed in the attack.
Since then, a completely embarrassed military has been hunting for the terrorists to no avail until Friday night.
In a statement made available to TheNiche, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Col Ezindu Idimah, said Major Datong was rescued in the late hours of Friday, September 17.
He said the Military High Command had shortly after the attack ordered that he be rescued and his abductors, fished out.
The spokesperson said sequel to the directive, the 1 Division, in conjunction with the Air Task Force, Department of State Services and other security agencies, swung into action by conducting operations in the Afaka general area of Kaduna, to locate and rescue the officer.
He explained that the operations were conducted based on several leads received from various sources regarding the abductors, and likely locations the officer was held.
Idimah stated that the operations were sustained since the abduction of the officer, resulting in the destruction of several identified bandits’ camps in the Afaka- Birnin Gwari general area, and the neutralization of scores of bandits, particularly in the late hours of September 17.
He said upon arrival at a camp suspected to be the location where Datong was being held, the troops exchanged fire with the bandits and in the process, the abducted officer was rescued.
However, he said the officer sustained a minor injury, but had been treated in a medical facility and handed over to the 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 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.
The rescue of Major Datong will, no doubt, come as a huge relief to an embarrassed military establishment.