By Augustine Ehikioya
The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has faulted allegation that it has remained inactive over the disappearince of Cadet Steven Kubama Gani.
It clarified that it doesn’t take lightly any disappearance of its cadets, including Cadet Steven Kubama Gani.
This was contained in a statement by Major Reuben Kovangiya, Academy Public Relations Officer, and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA).
It reads “The attention of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has been drawn to reports circulating various online media platforms as regards the missing of Cadet Stephen Kubama Gani.
“The report alleged that the Cadet mysteriously went missing from the Academy without appropriate actions taken by NDA to ascertain his whereabouts.
“To set the record straight in the interest of accuracy and transparency, Cadet SK Gani was admitted into the Academy as a member of 76 Regular Course and reported for training on 26 August, 2024.
“His training progressed without any hitch, but he was observed to have absented himself from the Academy with effect from 28 April, 2025 without official permission.
“In accordance with established procedures and extant regulations guiding cadets administration in NDA, his parents were formally notified 3 days after his absence.
“Seven days after the occurrence, he was struck off strength following due administrative procedures. Meanwhile, feedback received later from his parents, revealed that his whereabouts could not be ascertained and it led to renewed investigative procedure by the Academy which is still ongoing.”
“It is significant to reiterate that the training and administration of cadets in NDA are strictly governed by military laws, procedures and time-honoured traditions as spelt out in the Code of Conducts of the Academy.”
The NDA, in the statement, also called on the general public to discountenance the claim that the institution is doing nothing about the Cadet’s mysterious disappearance.
“While we continue to engage all parties in this matter to ensure a positive outcome, we wish to reiterate that the NDA takes the safety and wellbeing of all its cadets seriously.”
It said that adequate structures are on ground to ensure every cadet is accounted for through regular stop checks and physical inspections.
“The NDA remains a bastion of military and academic excellence, founded on the ideals of discipline, diligence, loyalty, honour and valour.
“The Academy continues to uphold the vision of its founding fathers by producing highly trained, dedicated and loyal officers for the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” it said.
