Nigerians express shock over the invasion of Defence Academy by armed bandits

Pascal Oparada

That one of the most fortified places in the country, the Nigeria Defence Academy, would be attacked by armed bandits has left many Nigerians reeling from shock.

Many say they feel less secure if such a dastardly act could be carried out by criminals in a place where future security operatives are being groomed.

Dr Olufunmilayo, a UK-based social media buff, expressed dismay that the attack happened in one of the most protected places in the country.

“Terrorists attacked the Nigerian Defence Academy base in Kaduna. They killed officers and kidnapped others.

This is not a church

This is not a mosque.

This is not a club.

This is not a school.

Or a silly shopping mall.

This is the Nigerian Defence Academy base. We are in deep shit,” he said on Twitter.

“So we went from crying that Kaduna with its military formation ought to be d most secured state in Nigeria, to waking up to d new of having the “prestigious” Nigerian Defence Academy attacked by terrorists – “killing officer(s) & kidnapping some..??” Everyone should go get a gun,” FS Yusuf said on social media.

Reno Omokri, erstwhile media aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan said the invasion shows how helpless the Buhari government is in tackling insecurity in Nigeria.

“The killing of two military officers at the Nigerian Defence Academy and the abduction of two more by bandits is a sign of the helplessness of the Buhari regime. If our defence academy is so vulnerable to bandits, what about us who they are expected to defend?” Omokri said. 

Rights activist, Deji Adeyanju that if the trend of abductions do not stop, soon governors would become victims.

“For those of us that know Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna very well, it remains unthinkable that bandits can invade the place, kill 3 soldiers, then kidnap other officers. If bandits can abduct soldiers in their own barrack, they will soon start abducting Governors,” he said.

Femi Fani-Kayode, former aviation minister called the invasion a slap on the face of security architecture in the country. He said the terrorists should be pursued and apprehended. 

“For those of us that know the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna very well, it remains unthinkable that bandits can invade the place, kill 3 soldiers, then kidnap other officers. If bandits can abduct soldiers in their own barrack, they will soon start abducting Governors,” he said 

The Nigerian military said it’s officers are the pursuit of the bandits and assured that other personnel and cadets in the academy are safe.