By Gift Chapi Odekina
The Commandant of the Nigeria Defence Academy, Major General Ibrahim Yusuf, on Tuesday presented a report of the August 24 attack to the House of Representatives Committee on Defence.
It can be recalled that two officers were killed in the incident, another abducted when bandits attacked the permanent site of the military institution in Kaduna State.
Chairman of the Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, said the report would shed more light on the dastardly incident. Although the actual exercise was behind closed doors, Benson, who represents Ikorodu Federal Constituency, said they expected to receive updates on efforts to rescue an officer who was abducted in the incident, as well as measures put in place to deter another occurrence.
The Commandant, Maj Gen Yusuf, reiterated that efforts were in top gear to rescue the abducted officer and ensure such never happens again. He said he would be traveling to Owerri in Imo State after presenting the report for the burial of one of the officers who was killed in the incident. He also pointed out that Saturday he attended the burial of the other officer who died as a result of the unfortunate incident.
He 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 about 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 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 services chiefs and the 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 officer 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, because I am scheduled to travel to Owerri by 11 in order to attend the burial of Flight Lieutenant Okoronkwo who is from Bende in Abia State. Only on Saturday I attended the burial of Lt Commander Wulah who also died as a result of that unfortunate incident.”
