The army Major who was kidnapped on August 24, 2021, when gunmen attacked the Nigerian Defence Academy in Afaka, Kaduna, Major Christopher Datong, has regained freedom.
The officer was reportedly rescued during a joint operation by the Nigerian Army, Air Force and other security agencies on Friday, 24 days after his abduction.
Datong was kidnapped after the gunmen invaded the academy and killed two officers identified as Lieutenant Wulah and Flight Lieutenant Okoronkwo.
According to a statement by the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Col Ezindu Idimah, the rescue was carried out in the late hours of September 17, 2021.
Reports say several identified bandits’ camps in the Afaka- Birnin Gwari area were destroyed while scores of bandits were neutralised during the rescue mission.
Idimah stated that upon arrival at a camp suspected to be the location where Datong was held, troops exchanged fire with the bandits and rescued Datong, who sustained a minor injury but had been treated in a medical facility and handed over to NDA.
“Our operations will continue until we capture or neutralise the assailants that killed two officers in the NDA on 24 August 2021,” Idimah added.
NDA Public Relations Officer, Maj. Bashir Jajira, also confirmed the development.
Recall that the Datong’s abductors had earlier demanded for N200m ransom before he could be released.