Despite multiple reports of his death, the abducted Major Christopher Datong is still alive.
Major Datong — not ‘Stephen Dantong’ as initially reported — was abducted in the wee hours of Tuesday morning when assailants reported to be ‘bandits’ gained access to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Afaka, Kaduna State, killing two officers and abducting him.
Multiple platforms had reported that his body was found, but FIJ’s findings confirmed that up till 10pm on Tuesday — hours after the supposed death was reported — both his family and the NDA got proof of life from his captors.
His abductors spoke with two different members of his extended family, both women, FIJ was told. They asked Major Datong to name someone he trusted the most whom they could talk to, and he did since Datong named his negotiator, the ‘bandits’ have refused to talk to anyone else.
“Every call they make, they give Datong the phone to talk to his self-appointed negotiator, just so that we have a proof of life,” a source very close to the family told FIJ on Wednesday morning. “He is alive. This much I can confirm. As of 10pm on Tuesday, he was still alive — and this was hours after the circulation of reports of his death.”
Even though it cannot be entirely ruled out, that the Military will address rumours of Datong’s death.
“They are unhappy with the way information has been leaking,” a senior source in the NDA told FIJ, “so they are determined to control information”.
The NDA source also added: “The Army is very closely monitoring the situation but it does not want to use force because of the high chance of collateral damage.”
‘We Don’t Pay Ransoms’, Military Tells Abducted Datong’s Family
The Nigeria Military has informed the family of the abducted Major Christopher Datong of its intention not to pay the ransom demanded by his captors.
Major Christopher Datong was abducted in the wee hours of Tuesday morning when assailants reported to be ‘bandits’ gained access to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Afaka, Kaduna, killing two officers and abducting Major Datong.
“The military has informed the family they don’t pay ransom,” a senior military source told FIJ on Wednesday morning. “Datong’s nuclear family are now hoping the bandits will contact them directly.”
Datong’s abductors initially contacted an extended family member of his, a woman, and then told her to “contact NDA as they know what to do”.
