The Nigeria Police Academy has confirmed an exclusive report by Sunday PUNCH concerning the demise of a 100-level course 9 police cadet, Sulaiman Jika, who dropped dead at the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State, on Saturday, after being continuously starved and malnourished for over two weeks.
In an official correspondence by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Hussain Suleman, on Sunday, said the academy was deeply saddened to announce Jika’s passing following a brief illness.
“The Nigeria Police Academy is deeply saddened to announce the passing of one of its cherished cadets, Mr. Sulaiman Jika, who succumbed to a brief and unexpected illness. Jika, a dedicated cadet from the Department of Computer Science, was a proud native of Adamawa state.
“On August 29, 2023, he sought medical attention at the academy clinic due to an ailment. Following a diligent course of treatment and his gradual recovery, he was certified fit and discharged by the medical doctor on call the next day and tasked to return at regular intervals for checks which he adhered to. However, fate took an unforeseen turn.
“On September 2, 2023, he was once again admitted to the clinic for further examination and care following a complaint of restlessness. Though his vitals were normal upon examination and all necessary medical steps were taken, we regrettably report his untimely passing.
“The commandant of the Nigeria Police Academy, AIG Sadiq Abubakar, extends his deepest condolences to the grieving family, friends, and loved ones of cadet Sulaiman Jika. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this period of profound sorrow. May God Almighty grant them the strength and resilience to bear this heavy loss.”
The PUNCH reports that some cadets who spoke to our correspondent, accused the Commandant, AIG Abubakar, of high-handedness and financial mismanagement of feeding allowance meant for the students.
A cadet, who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid being victimized, said the victim was rushed to the academy’s clinic.
“He was left untreated because there are no drugs and no medical officer to attend to him in the unconducive environment, before he gave up and died,” the source added.
A cadet, who also asked not to be identified, said there was usually high traffic of sickly cadets at the unequipped clinic on a daily basis.
He said, “Since the new commandant assumed office, they’ve been providing very bad and inadequate food for us. The boy that died was not up to 20 years old. The boy wouldn’t have died if they’d attended to him. The commandant also ordered the closure of the market and laundry and approved undeserved training exercises during lecture hours.
“Cadets collapse daily here during training due to fatigue, because it’s either they’re starved, malnourished, or both. We’re usually threatened by the commandant and forced to engage in unwarranted training exercises. Also, many cadets have been dismissed on the basis that they fell sick; that’s why many are trying to manage themselves to avoid expulsion from the academy.”
Meanwhile, staff members, who spoke to our correspondent, complained about the monthly feeding allowance of the academy.
A source privy to the running of the academy revealed that part of the money was usually diverted into private pockets by some top officials.
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