By Our Reporter
KADUNA- Troops of the Nigerian Army, Airforce and other security agencies have rescued Maj. Christopher Datong, the officer abducted at the permanent site of Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna, on Aug. 24.
The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Col Ezindu Idimah, said in a statement issued in Kaduna that the officer was rescued in the late hours of Friday, Sept.17.
He said the Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs had earlier issued a directive after the abduction of the officer, 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 Sept 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 NDA for further action.
Ezindu Idimah stated on Friday that the abducted military officer was rescued through the effort of carefully planned operation by the military, DSS, Air force and other security agencies.
The operation rescue Major Datong, he said, led to killing of scores of bandits.
According to him, Security agents also discovered bandits hideout along the Afaka- Birnin Gwari axis in Kaduna State.
Source who didn’t want his name in print revealed that ransom was paid to bandits to secure his release.
According to Capital Post, reports emerged on some online news outlets earlier in the week that friends and associates of the Major Christopher Datong secretly contributed N200 million ransom to be given to bandits.
