Major Christopher L Datong, who was abducted when bandits who broke into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna, last month, has regained freedom.

Sources said that N20 Million was paid as ransom including four  motorcycles were given to bandits.

Although the army said it rescued him with a minor injury after troops arrived at a camp suspected to be the abductors’ hideout in the late hours of Friday and exchanged fire with them, according to Ezindu Idimah, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations.

“Following the directive of the Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs for 1 Division Nigerian Army in collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and all security agencies to conduct decisive operations to rescue Major CL Datong who was abducted at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Permanent Site on 24 August 2021 and find the perpetrators dead or alive.

The Division in collaboration with the Air Force and all security agencies conducted decisive operations to rescue Major CL Datong.

“The operations were carried out based on several leads received from various sources about the abductors and possible holding locations for the officer.

“The operations, which have been ongoing since the officer’s abduction, have proven quite successful, destroying several identified bandits’ camps in the Afaka- Birnin Gwari general area, as well as the neutralisation of scores of bandits, in particular, the troops arrived at a camp suspected to be the location where Maj CL Datong was being held captive in the late hours of today, 17 September 2021.

“The troops exchanged fire with the bandits at the camp, who were overwhelmed by superior fire. The valiant troops were able to save the kidnapped officer in the process. The officer, however, received a minor injury and was treated in a medical facility before being handed over to the NDA for further action.”

The army promised that its operations would continue until the assailants who killed two (2) officers in the NDA on August 24, 2021, were captured or neutralised.

Recall the bandits initially demanded N200million for the abducted military officer. Two senior officers were gunned down in the incident which happened on August 24, 2021.