Major Christopher Datong abducted 24 days ago after bandits broke into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), killing two other senior officers, has been released.
The senior officer was taken away from the elite military institution on August 24, sparking national outrage.
He was freed on Friday according to a statement late Friday night by the
Deputy Director Army Public Relations 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Colonel Ezindu Idimah.
He said “the operations led to the destruction of several identified bandits’ camps in Afaka- Birnin Gwari general area where scores of bandits particularly, in the late hours of Friday, 17 September, 2021 were neutralized.
He said the Division “in conjunction with the Air Task Force, Department of State Services and other security agencies, immediately swung into action by conducting operations in the Afaka general area to find and rescue the officer after a directive by the Chief of Army Staff.”
He said “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 overwhelmed them 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,” he said.
He commended the efforts of the NAF, DSS , Nigerian Police and patriotic Nigerians for their invaluable support which contributed to the success of this operation.
He said their operations will continue until they capture or neutralize the assailants that killed two (2) officers in the NDA.
