Photocredit:BBCPidgin
In a statement on Saturday morning, the Nigerian military stated that Datong has been freed by security personnel.
Christopher Datong, a Nigerian Army officer, has regained his freedom after being held captive by bandits for 25 days at the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna State.
On August 24, 2021, bandits attacked the military training school, murdering two officers and wounding another, while abducting Datong.
Col. Ezindu Idimah, spokesman for the 1 Division, Nigerian Army Kaduna, said in a statement issued at 12:15 a.m. on Saturday that the Division, in collaboration with the Air Task Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies, conducted the operation that resulted in the rescue of the officer who had been held captive for 25 days.
“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 C. L. Datong, who was abducted at Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Permanent Site on 24 August 2021 and find the perp, troops rescued Major CL Datong,” the statement read.
The activities were performed on the basis of multiple leads that the kidnappers had obtained from different sources and the officer's anticipated locations.
The operational events that have been carried out since the officer had been abducted showed success and led to the destruction, at the late hour of today 17 September 2021, of several identified bandit camps in the general Afaka-Birnin Gwari region and neutralisation of numerous bandits in a particular way.
The military traded fire with the robbers in the camp, overwhelming them with superior firepower. The valiant warriors were able to save the kidnapped officer in the process. The officer, however, suffered a slight injury and was taken to a medical facility before being 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.
"We will continue our operations until the attackers who killed 2 (2) officers in the NDA on 24 August 2021 are caught or neutralized.
source: saharareporters