Major Christopher Datong, the military officer abducted Tuesday at the Nigerian Defence Academy in Afaka, Kaduna, has been reportedly murdered.

His body was discovered on Tuesday evening, hours after he was kidnapped by bandits, according to sources.

The kidnappers reportedly demanded N200 million in exchange for his release.

Datong was born on January 4, 1978, in Pankshin, Plateau State.

The security breach at the Nigerian Defence Academy shocked the country, with many wondering if anyone is truly safe if bandits are able to operate freely inside an elite military school.

Major Bashir Muhd Jajira, the NDA’s Public Relations Officer, who first reported the attack, stated two soldiers were slain.

Jajira issued the following statement:

“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.”

Alhaji Yusuf Zailani, Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, has branded the incursion as an attack on the country’s territorial integrity.

Zailani said in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ibrahim Danfulani, in Kaduna on Tuesday that the incident should be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated.

NDA, according to the speaker, is the country and Africa’s top training institution for personnel of Nigeria’s military services.

He stated that an attack on such a facility was unacceptable and that the military authority should look into it.

“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 praising security officials for their efforts to eliminate bandits and insurgents around the country, he urged them not to be discouraged by the NDA event.

“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