Bandits kill two officers at NDA, abduct Major Dalung

.Gunmen demand N200m ransom for kidnapped officer

.Attack, an assault on Nigeria’s territorial integrity —Kaduna speaker

Major Dalung and wife

The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), on Tuesday, confirmed that gunmen gained access into the residential area within the Academy in Afaka.

 

In a statement, the Academy’s Public Relations Officer, Major Bashir Muhd Jajira said the security architecture of the Academy was compromised early Tuesday morning by gunmen who gained access into the residential area within the Academy in Afaka.

 

Jajira said during the unfortunate incident, the Academy lost two officers and one was abducted.

 

He added that the Academy, in collaboration with the 1Division Nigerian Army and Air Training Command as well as other security agencies in Kaduna state, had since commenced pursuit of the gunmen within the general area with a view to tracking them and rescuing the abducted officer.

 

Jajira said the community and Cadets were safe in the Academy.

 

He assured the general public that the gunmen would soon be apprehended and the abducted officer rescued.

Police commander, seven others killed in Plateau State

 

Eight persons, including a Police inspector and a vigilante have been killed in Mangu Local Governement Area of Plateau State.

 

The policeman, Abdulrahaman Isah, was identified as the Commander, IGP’s Intelligence Response Team based in Mangu while the name of the vigilante was given as Hassan Mohammed.

 

It was gathered that the victims were killed on Monday evening at Kwoi community of the council area.

 

The President of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, North East Nigerian Conference, Joshua Mallum, at a press conference in Jos on Tuesday condemned the continued violence in Plateau State.

 

He said, “A killer is a criminal, hence governement must put all ethnic and religious sentiments aside in dealing with these merchants of death threatening our collective peace and existence in Plateau and Nigeria.”

 

The spokesman of the State Police Command, Ubah Ogaba, confirmed the Mangu killings in a statement in Jos on Tuesday.

 

Ogaba said, “On 23/08/2021 at about 1400hrs, the command received credible information about the activity of a notorious syndicate of gunrunners at Kwoi Village, in Mangu LGA of the State. On receipt of the information, the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT) based in Mangu, Police Operatives attached to Mangu Division, STF and local vigilante were mobilized and swiftly raced to the area.

 

On sighting the team, the hoodlums engaged them in a gun duel. But because of the tactical operational capability and superior gunfire of the Operatives, six of the hoodlums were neutralized while others fled with various degrees of bullets wounds.

 

“Exhibits recovered from them include Three AK 47 Rifles with Breach Nos 868, 106076 and 123487.

 

“Regrettably, one Insp. Abdulrahaman Isah who is the Commander IGP’s Intelligence Response Team based in Mangu and one Hassan Mohammed a local vigilante gallantly paid the supreme price.”

 

The police spokesman added that investigation has since commenced.

.Gunmen demand N200m ransom for kidnapped officer

The terrorists who abducted Major Stephen Dantong from the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Afaka, Kaduna, on Tuesday have contacted the authorities to demand a N200 million ransom.

 

Around 1am on Tuesday, a contingent of bandits on motorbikes, invaded the Army barracks to kill two soldiers, identified as Lieutenant Commodore Wulah and Flight Lieutenant Okoronwo. They also abducted Major Datong.

 

It was learnt  that the gunmen operated for hours and left without any hindrance. After they left, soldiers in the barracks made efforts to trail them but failed.

 

“They couldn’t kill even one of them. They searched everywhere in the bush but couldn’t find them. They had fled away with their motorbikes,”

a source told newsmen Tuesday.

 

According to Foundation of Investigative Journalism report, the bandits subsequently contacted the defence academy to commence  negotiation on the payment of ransom before they release Datong.

 

“They have called to ask for N200m to free the Major,” the source added.

 

“The attack was ridiculous. They came, teased us and left. Even the helicopter hovering in the bush could not track them.”

 

After the attack, Bashir Muhd Jajira, spokesman of the NDA in Kaduna, said the security architecture of the NDA was compromised by unknown gunmen who gained access into the residential area within the Academy in Afaka.

 

“During the unfortunate incident, we lost two personnel and one was abducted,” he said.

 

“The Academy, in collaboration with the 1Division Nigerian Army and Air Training Command as well as other security agencies in Kaduna State, have since commenced pursuit of the unknown gunmen within the general area with a view to tracking them and rescuing the abducted personnel.”

 

When contacted for comments on the ransom, Onyema Nwachukwu, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the NDA, did not answer his call. A text message to his line had also not been replied as of press time.

 

Attack on NDA, assault on Nigeria’s territorial integrity – Kaduna Assembly Speaker

 

Speaker of Kaduna State House of Assembly, Alhaji Yusuf Zailani, has described the invasion, killing and abduction at Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) as an assault on the country’s territorial integrity

 

Zailani, who stated this in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ibrahim Danfulani, in Kaduna, on Tuesday, said that the incident must be treated with all seriousness and thoroughly investigated.

 

The speaker described NDA as the premier training citadel for members of Nigeria’s armed forces and pride to the country and Africa.

 

He said that attack on such an institution was unacceptable and must be investigated by the military hierarchy.

 

“It is disheartening and unfortunate for such an attack to have taken place, catching those in charge of its internal security off-guard,” Zailani said.

 

 

 

While commending security personnel for making efforts to decimate bandits and insurgents nationwide, he said that they should not let the NDA incident demoralise them.

 

“I sincerely commiserate with the families of those who lost their lives.

 

“I am, however, pleased that the NDA authorities have given assurance that the assailants are being trailed and that they will be apprehended,” the speaker added. (