- Gives panel four-day deadline to conclude investigation
The acting Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun has instituted a seven-man Panel of Inquiry, headed by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, Abiodun Alabi, with a mandate to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a police cadet, Sulaiman Jika at the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State.
Other members of the panel include the Assistant Inspector-General, Training and Development, Oyeyemi Oyediran; Force Medical Officer, CP Garba Nzukwen; CP Homicide FCID, Fom-Pam Joseph, CP Training POLAC, CP Patrick Edung; a representative of the CP Legal as the secretary, and the Principal Staff Officer II to the IG, ACP Idris Abubakar.
Egbetokun also ordered the panel to furnish his office with a comprehensive report detailing its findings and recommendations within four days; while extending his heartfelt condolences and commiserations to Jika’s family, relations, and the academy community, and assuring that he was deeply empathetic to their pains and loss; and that the Force would do the needful to ensure justice is done in the case.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi made the development known midnight Tuesday at exactly 1:03 am, in an official correspondence obtained by our correspondent.
Adejobi said, “In response to the tragic incident at the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State, where a promising young cadet, Sulaiman Jika, lost his life, on Friday, September 1, 2023, the Inspector General of Police has set up a seven-man Panel of Inquiry on Monday, September 4, 2023, headed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, Abiodun Alabi, with a mandate to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the cadet’s death
“The IGP has set a deadline of four days for the panel to furnish a comprehensive report detailing its findings and recommendations. Other members of the panel include the AIG Training and Development, AIG Oyeyemi Oyediran; Force Medical Officer, CP Garba Emmanuel Nzukwen; CP Homicide FCID, CP Fom Pam Joseph, psc(+); CP Training POLAC, CP Patrick Edung; representative of the CP Legal as the secretary, and the Principal Staff Officer II to the IGP, ACP Idris Abubakar.”
The PUNCH had exclusively reported on Sunday that Jim’s, a 100-level Course 9 police cadet, dropped dead at POLAC on Saturday, September 2, 2023, after being allegedly starved and malnourished for over two weeks.
Some cadets who spoke to our correspondent, accused the Commandant, AIG Sadiq 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.”
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.
Meanwhile, in an official correspondence by the Police Public Relations Officer, POLAC, ASP Hussain Suleman on Sunday, the academy said it was deeply saddened to announce Jika’s passing following a brief illness.
ASP Suleman said, “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.”
