… As Commander presents report on bandits’ attack to house
Tayo AFOLABI
The Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Major General Ibrahim Manu Yusuf, on Tuesday, reiterated that efforts were in top gear to rescue the abducted officer and ensure such an incident never occurs again.
The commander stated this while addressing journalists briefly before meeting the lawmakers behind closed doors to present a report on the August 24 attack by bandits on NDA to members of the House of Representatives Committee on Defence.
Recall that two officers were killed in the incident and another abducted when bandits attacked the military institution in Kaduna State.
He said he would be travelling to Owerri in Imo State after the briefing for the burial of one of the officers who was killed in the incident.
The commandant said: “I assumed command of the academy on the 9th of July, this year, and barely six weeks later this unfortunate incident occurred. I am really delighted to be given this opportunity to be here to shed light on the occurrence and perhaps more importantly the ongoing efforts we are making to recover the abducted officers. And also measures the academy is currently emplacing to ensure that this does not ever occur again.
“At this point, I would also like to register my deep appreciation and inform the House as well that the day this incident occurred, the Chief of Defence Staff visited the academy the same day, the Chief of Army Army Staff (COAS) visited three days later. By the following week, all the service chiefs were all in the academy just to commiserate with the academy community and also to get more information on what the academy is doing to ensure that this incident does not occur again. Many senior, retired and serving military officers have called; they have also visited the academy because the academy is very dear not only to the military but to Nigeria as a whole. I also want to appreciate you for accepting that I make this presentation this morning.”
Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Babajimi Benson, said the report would shed more light on the incident as well as measures being put in place to deter another occurrence.
The lawmakers who were scheduled to resume Tuesday (yesterday) after their two-month annual vacation, adjourned plenary to Wednesday(today), in honour of their late colleague, Hon. Adedayo Omolafe, who died on August 15.
The adjournment was sequel to a motion moved by the House leader, Hon. Ado Doguwa, and seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu.
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