Military launches manhunt for officers abductors at NDA

Security agencies have launched a manhunt for the gunmen who killed two officers and abducted one from the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Afaka, Kaduna State, yesterday morning.

A source said the gunmen stormed the school in large numbers, kidnapped Major Christopher Datong, and killed a lieutenant commander, simply identified as Wulah, and a flight lieutenant, C.M. Okoronkwo.

The source, who pleaded not to be named because he was not authorised to speak, said a second lieutenant, simply identified as Onah, sustained a gunshot injury.

The officers were said to have been killed while foiling the gunmen’s attempt to gain access to the hostels.

Unconfirmed reports said the gunmen have demanded N200 million ransom.

NDA is a military university that trains officer cadets for commissioning into one of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force.

It is located on Kaduna-Lagos highway and about 10 kilometres from the city centre.

The institution’s spokesman, Major Bashir Jajira, said in a statement that efforts were on to rescue the abducted officer. He did not confirm the ransom demand.

The statement reads: “The security architecture of the Nigerian Defence Academy was compromised early this morning (yesterday) 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.

“The Academy, in collaboration with the 1 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 to track them and rescue the abducted personnel.

“The NDA community and cadets are safe. We assure the general public that these unknown gunmen would soon be apprehended and the abducted personnel rescued.”

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) added that troops were on the trail of the gunmen.

Director of Defence Information, Major General Benjamin Sawyer, said the gunmen “sneaked in after breaching the perimeter fence”, adding that they “went straight to the officer’s living quarters and started shooting sporadically”.

“Unfortunately, two brave and gallant officers paid the supreme price while one other officer was abducted by the bandits during the process.

“All efforts have been intensified by troops who are currently combing the entire locations in search and rescue mission for the adducted officers.

“The Commandant NDA, as well as the HQ 1Div with the support of NAF, are presently in a coordinated joint operation to search and rescue the abducted officer and arrest the perpetrators,” Sawyer said.

El-Rufai saddened

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, in a statement by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, prayed for the repose of the souls of the personnel who lost their lives.

“The governor conveys heartfelt empathy to the Academy, and 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,” the statement reads.

PDP: Nigerians have lost hope 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said Nigerians have lost faith in the capacity of President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration to secure the nation.

It said the situation has become so bad that gunmen now have the temerity to attack military formations and kill officers.

The party’s spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said in a statement: “It is distressing that having lost hope in the capacity and commitment of the President Buhari-led APC administration to protect citizens, state governments are now sending vehicles to the University of Jos, Plateau State, to evacuate their citizens.

“This shows their complete loss of confidence in the APC administration and the empty promises by the Buhari Presidency.

“It is even more disheartening that while our nation is under turmoil and while hundreds of helpless Nigerians, including innocent students, are languishing in kidnappers’ den, President Buhari and APC leaders are more interested in their lavish funfair with state-owned resources and facilities.

“Our party notes that violence and acts of terrorism had escalated across the country due to the incompetence and compromises of the Buhari administration as well as its refusal to heed wise counsel from well-meaning Nigerians, including the PDP, on how to secure and stabilise the nation.”

Sani: No lessons learnt

A former Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, decried the recurring attacks on government institutions/facilities in Afaka.

He said in a statement: “The Airport staff quarters that were once attacked; the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation that was once attacked and now the Nigerian Defence Academy are all in Afaka. No lesson learned and nowhere is safe. Disappointing.

“The bandits who kidnap and kill in the North and extorted billions in ransom remain poor, wretched and appear famished whenever arrested.

“Until the government gets the hidden lords who ultimately collect the money and supply them with weapons, we just wasting our time.”

ACF: security architecture in reverse gear

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) expressed shock over the incident, describing it as embarrassing.

The group, in a statement by its spokesman, Emmanuel Yawe, commiserated with the deceased families and prayed that the abducted officer would be rescued.

It said: “The latest security breach is another embarrassment to the ACF.

“The NDA is a proud monument of the efforts of the first generation of northerners who fought hard to bring development to the north – the likes of Muhammadu Ribadu, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Sir Ahmadu Bello who brought the Institution to Kaduna.

“They did not bring it here for our generation to hand it over to bandits or whatever we call them.

“This is an institution that is not only a pride of the north but pride of Nigeria. Many African countries train their military officers here.

“It is really sad that ordinary street bandits will invade a military institution of such high national and international repute, outwit the security system and men there, kill officers and take one away to an unknown destination.

“We of the ACF are particularly sad because Kaduna is our home not only because our headquarters is located here but for a long time even after the split of our Northern Region, Kaduna remained home to all northerners.

“The NDA is a proud reminder of the achievements of our fathers. Is that how our present generation of northerners will seat and watch as these legacies are destroyed?

“We of the ACF have said it again and again that there is everything seriously wrong with the management of our security. The other day, a Nigerian Airforce fighter aircraft was shot down by the so-called bandits.

“Today the factory where all Nigerian military officers are produced has been invaded and desecrated.

“What else do we need to show that our national security system is running on reverse gear?”

‘Sack Monguno’

The Coalition of Northern Elders for Peace and Development (CNEPD) called for the sack of the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd), over the alleged failure of Nigeria’s intelligence network.

In the statement by its national coordinator, Zana Goni, the group said Monguno should have gone with other security chiefs.

“The fact that a fortified military institution could be so easily invaded by armed militias without resistance has left us with the conclusion that no part of this country and no citizen, no matter his or her status, is safe again,” CNEPD said.

Kaduna State House of Assembly Speaker, Yusuf Zailani, described the attack as an assault on Nigeria’s territorial integrity.

In a statement by his spokesman Ibrahim Dahiru Danfulani, the Speaker said: “It is disheartening and unfortunate for such an attack to have taken place, catching those in charge of its internal security off guard.”