By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

The directive of the Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs for 1 Division Nigerian Army in conjunction with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and all security agencies to conduct decisive operations to rescue kidnapped Major CL Datong has finally yielded success.

Major Datong who was abducted at Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Permanent Site on 24 August 2021 was rescued by a joint operation team, according to a statement made available by Colonel Ezindu Idimah Deputy Director Army Public Relations 1 Division Nigerian Army.

"The service chiefs order was also to find the perpetrators dead or alive. 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," the statement said.

The statement explained that the operations were being conducted based on several leads received from various sources regarding the abductors and likely locations of the officer.

The statement also said: "The operations which have been sustained since the abduction of the officer proved quite successful and led to the destruction of several identified bandits’ camps in the Afaka- Birnin Gwari general area and neutralization of scores of bandits particularly in the late hours of today (Friday), 17 September, 2021, 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. 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.

"The Division wishes to commend the efforts of the NAF, DSS , Nigerian Police and patriotic Nigerians for their invaluable support which contributed to the success of this operation.

"Our operations will continue until we capture or neutralize the assailants that killed two (2) officers in the NDA on 24 August 2021," the statement added.

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