Kaduna State was again in the news on Tuesday when terrorists from the forest visited the permanent site of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna, killing two officers and abducted one.
Kaduna has become the epicentre of banditry where they have abducted many students from their hostel and collected huge ransom from parents before releasing their victims.
In the latest incident, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, according to media report the wounded officer was said to be receiving treatment at the Academy’s Medical Centre.
When contacted immediately after the attack, the spokesman of the academy, Bashir Jajira, a Major said a press statement will be issued soon.
“Good morning Gentlemen. A release will be made available shortly. I am awaiting the Commandant’s approval”, Jajira responded on the WhatsApp chat group of the NDA and the media.
Authorities of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, said that the security architecture of the institution was compromised, allowing the bandits to gain access to the well-fortified institution.
They confirmed the attack on its facility where two officers were killed and another abducted by bandits cum terrorist
The military university located along with the Kaduna International Airport, Afaka, in Igabi Local Government Area of the state, was attacked around 1:00 am on Tuesday.
The spokesman of the NDA, Major Bashir Jagira, said that the institution in collaboration with the 1 Division Nigerian Army, Kaduna; and the Nigerian Air Force Training Command, had launched a manhunt for the bandits.
In the statement titled, ‘Security breach of the Nigerian Defence Academy architecture,’ the general public was assured that the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) is safe and that the gunmen would soon be apprehended.
The statement reads: “The security architecture of the Nigerian Defence Academy was compromised early this morning 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 1Division 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 NDA community and Cadets are safe in the Academy. We assure the general public that these unknown gunmen would soon be apprehended and the abducted personnel rescued,” Jajira said in the statement.
”On 24 August 2021, at about 0125hrs, bandits in their large numbers attacked NDA Afaka and kidnapped 1 Officer; Maj Datong while Lt Cdr Wulah and Flt Lt CM Okoronwo were shot dead. 2Lt Onah sustained gunshot injury and currently receiving treatment at own hospital in NDA,” a source said
Another source said: “They came in, silently, through the part of the academy where we have barbed wire and not properly fenced. Unfortunately, there were no soldiers on guard duty at that end. So, the bandits sneaked in, through to where the officers were and got three of them.
“It was when they shot one of the officers that everybody woke up, and before we knew it they had made their way outside and fled.”
“The attack is a big slap on our face. How could we have allowed that? They already knew there was no guard on duty and came in through that axis.”