Major CL Datong, who was abducted during an attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna State by bandits last month, has been rescued by troops of the Nigerian Military.
FirstNews had reported that bandits stormed the NDA on August 24, killed officers and abducted Major CL Datong.
But the rescue mission of the military finally paid off on Friday as the major was rescued alive.
While confirming the development, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Colonel Ezindu Idimah, said Datong was rescued by troops.
He said the rescue operation had led to the destruction of the bandits’ camp at Afaka-Birnin Gwari areas of the state, revealing that scores of bandits were killed during the operation, particularly, in the late hours of September 17, 2021.
According to him, the operation took the combined efforts of the Air Task Force, Department of State Services and other security agencies who conducted operations in the Afaka general area to find and rescue the officer following a directive by the Chief of Army Staff.
“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 and overwhelmed them with 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, however, saluted the men of the NAF, DSS , Nigerian Police and ‘patriotic Nigerians’ who worked assiduously to rescue the major.