The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Colonel Ezindu Idimah has opened up on how Major C. L. Datong was rescued from his abductors.
Idimah confirmed that there was serious exchange of fire between the troops and the bandits, when they got to the camp where Major Datong was held hostage.
In the course of the fire exchange with the troops, the bandits were finally overpowered; giving the troops the room to rescue Major Datong. Though report said the officer sustained minor injury but has been taken the hospital for proper medical attention.
Reports revealed that there were scores of bandits killed by the troops during the operation to rescue Major Datong.
In his words, Idimah 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 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.”
Since the news broke about the rescue of Major Datong, many Nigerians have argued that ransom was paid before he was rescued.
But with the words of Idimah, it suggest that his rescue was not based on ransom; it was actually the efforts of the Nigerian Military.
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Recall that Major C.L Datong was abducted on August 24, 2021; when the bandits attacked the Defense Academy, Kaduna, number one military school in Nigeria.
During the attack, about 2 Officers were killed by the bandits while Major Datong was abducted. Though the bandits had demanded for N200 million ransom to release Major Datong, but no one knows if any ransom was later paid.
The attack was really a slap on Nigerian security, as no one could believe that ordinary bandits could gain access to attack a military base that is supposed to be the most secured place in Nigeria.
Many Nigerians had come up with different views, complaints and worries about the embarrassment. Many wondered if there was any other place secured again in the country, if the bandits now have access to Nigeria Defense Academy.
Though the military made serious efforts to arrest the bandits on that night of attack, but all proved abortive.
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Seeing that the bandits have really crossed their boundary, the military never relented in making offensive efforts to rescue Major Datong.
In this, through the directive by the Chief of Army Staff; the Army 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.
Photo Credit: Getty
