The acting Inspector General of Police, IGP Olukayode Egbetokun, has set up an even-man panel to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a young Cadet, Sulaiman Jika, at the Nigeria Police Academy (POLAC), Wudil, Kano state, on September 1, 2023.
The panel comes in the wake of.public outcry over the alleged maltreatment of the cadet and poor state of the POLAC which has been linked, in some quarters, to Jika’s death.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), on Sunday, announced the demise of the cadet in a press statement: POLAC Mourns: Commandant Announces Unfortunate Loss of Cadet Sulaiman, by POLAC, Police Public Relations Officer, Wudil, Kano.ASP Hussain Suleman.
It read in part, “On August 29, 2023, he (Sulaiman) 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.”
Howevr, a report by a national daily (not Blueprint) had alleged foil play, quoting the.deceased’s coirsemate as.blamimg his death on starvation.
According to the report, Jika diednafter being continuously starved and malnourished for over two weeks.
The report further alleged that, “Some of the cadets accused the Commandant, Assistant Inspector-General, Sadiq Abubakar, of high-handedness and financial mismanagement of feeding allowance meant for the students.”
According to the eye-witness account, “Jika, who hailed from Adamawa etate, and was in the Department of Computer Science, collapsed inside the toilet in the early hours of Saturday.
““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.”
Forec Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who announced the setting up of the investigative panel, in a press statement in the early hours of Tuesday, stated: “In response to the tragic incident at the POLAC, Wudil, Kano state, where a promising young cadet, Sulaiman Jika, lost his life, on Friday, September 1, 2023, IGP Egbetokun has set up a 7-man Panel of Inquiry headed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Abuja, DIG 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 4 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; 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.
“Furthermore, the IGP extends his heartfelt condolences and commiserations to the family and relations of Sulaiman Jika and the academy community, during this trying time, assuring that he is deeply empathetic to their pains and loss; and that the Force would do the needful to ensure justice is done in the case.”
