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, FIJ can report.

Major Christopher Datong — not ‘Stephen Dantong’ as initially thought — 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.

FIJ had exclusively reported on Tuesday that the bandits subsequently got in touch to demand a N200million ransom; it can now report that the defence academy is unwilling to enter any negotiation with the bandits.

“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.”

READ ALSO: EXCLUSIVE: ‘Bandits’ Contact NDA, Demand N200m Ransom for Abducted Major

FIJ also understands that 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”.

Also, there are ongoing media speculations that Datong may have been killed, but FIJ has not yet been able to ascertain the veracity of those claims.

FIJ can also not yet confirm if these speculations are in anyway linked to the Military’s refusal to entertain any negotiation.