How Major Datong Regained Freedom From His Captors

Major Datong, who was kidnapped last month when gunmen stormed the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna, has been released.

iexclusive News Nigeria reports that the incident, which occurred on August 24, 2021, resulted in the deaths of two senior officers.

Colonel Ezindu Idimah, Deputy Director Army Public Relations 1 Division, Nigerian Army, said Datong was rescued by troops on Friday night.

Nigerian Troops

He said that the operation that led to his rescue resulted in the demolition of numerous recognized bandit camps in the state’s Afaka-Birnin Gwari districts.

During the raid, he stated, scores of bandits were murdered, notably in the late hours of September 17, 2021.

He claimed that the Division, working with the Air Task Force, the Department of State Services, and other security agencies, sprung into action right afterward.

“The forces arrived at a camp believed to be the detention center for Maj CL Datong. The military traded fire with the bandits at the camp, overwhelming them with superior firepower.

“The valiant troops were able to save the kidnapped officer in the process. The officer, however, received a slight injury and was treated in a medical institution before being handed over to the NDA for further action,” he added.

He praised the NAF, DSS, Nigerian Police, and “patriotic Nigerians” for their essential assistance, which he said contributed to the operation’s success.

He stated that their operations will continue until the assailants responsible for the NDA attack are apprehended or neutralized.