Business Post Contributor
By Ashemriogwa Emmanuel
Some armed bandits have reportedly raided the permanent site of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna, killing two officers on duty and abducting one others to an unknown destination.
The attack on the military university took place in the early hours on Tuesday at the permanent site of the nation’s premier defence institution.
Business Post gathered that the terrorists disguised as military personnel to gain entry into the academy and moved straight to the officers’ mess, killing two persons and going away with the others.
The fresh attack on NDA Kaduna is coming nearly 24 hours after 15 travellers kidnapped by bandits were rescued by troops of Operation Safe Haven in Jagindi, Jema’a LGA of Kaduna State.
As of the time of filing this report, it is still uncertain as to if officer cadets were among those who were abducted.
Also, authorities of the Nigerian Army are yet to confirm or deny the attack.
More details on the incident will come later.
UPDATE:
Meanwhile, the NDA has confirmed the attack launched by bandits in its barracks at Afaka, Kaduna State and has vowed to track them and rescue the abducted personnel.
According to a statement issued by the Academy’s spokesperson, Mr Bashir Jajira, the security architecture of the military institution was compromised at wee hours of on Tuesday morning by unknown gunmen, who gained access into the residential area within the Academy in Afaka.
The statement confirmed that during the unfortunate incident, two personnel were killed and one was abducted.
“The Academy, in collaboration with the 1st Division Nigerian Army and Air Training Command, as well as other security agencies in Kaduna State, has since commenced pursuit of the unknown gunmen within the general area, with a view to tracking them and rescue the abducted personnel,” the statement read.
It was revealed that the abductors of one of the personnel, Major Stephen Datong, have demanded N200 million as ransom.
In his reaction, the Kaduna State Governor, Mr Nasir El-Rufai, has expressed sadness over the attack after he has been briefed of the development.
A statement issued by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, said: “The Governor conveys heartfelt empathy to the Academy, and to the immediate families of the personnel, and also extends deep concern to the family of the abducted officer.
“Furthermore, the Government of Kaduna State extends its unreserved solidarity to the Armed Forces of Nigeria and all security agencies who are making immense sacrifices on different fronts.
“The Government hereby appeals to the good citizens of the state to volunteer useful information to the military and security agencies in the campaign against banditry and kidnapping, in the state and beyond. On its part, the Kaduna State Government will continue to take actions considered imperative in the campaign against bandits throughout the state.”
