From Victor Osula, Abuja
Major Christopher Datong
Major Christopher Datong who was recently abducted by bandits at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna has regained freedom. During the raid on the country’s elite military base, two other officers were killed while one was injured.
Deputy Director of Nigeria Army Public Relations Officer of the First Division, Ezindu Idimah said in a statement that the rescue operation was made possible through collaborations with other forces such as the State Security Service (SSS), Air Force, and the military, among others.
Idimah added that Datong sustained a slight injury during the rescue operation while many of his abductors were killed during the shoot-out session.
He said; “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.”
It is uncertain if any ransom was paid for Datong’s rescue. A report had earlier claimed that his abductors demanded N200 million for his rescue and that his colleagues had secretly collected the money for ransom among themselves.
