NDA cadet dies less than 24 hours after admission

James Bulus, a cadet of the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna, has died less than 24 hours after enrolling into the military institution.

The deceased, with registration number NDA/ 11537, reportedly collapsed on Monday, while in a queue waiting to collect his training kits.

Bulus was buried at the Military Cemetery, along Whaff  Road, Kaduna, on Thursday.

He was lowered with full military regalia, and MG Kangye, cadet commandant of the NDA, handed over the national flag, a pair of army boot and army ceremonial cap to Didam Joshua, father of the deceased, during the funeral.

Unconfirmed reports have it that the Bulus died as a result of the torture from his senior colleagues during the traditional “introduction night” for new cadets.

But Musa Yahaya, the academy’s public relations officer (PRO), dismissed the reports, explaining that the deceased died as a result of an accident he had on his way to the academy.

He said Bulus had confided in one of his colleagues that he had an accident on his way, but he chose not to inform the authorities out of the fear of being withdrawn from the institution.

“This cadet report on September 3, 2016, at the old campus of the NDA for registration. The senior cadets are at the permanent site of the academy in Afaka where training takes place,” he said.

“So, there is no how any senior cadet could have beaten him.

“When Cadets report for the first time, for administrative purposes, they report at the old campus of the academy so that they can be kitted and given all the requisite things for their training before moving to the permanent site.

“On Sunday, the deceased confided in one of his colleagues that he had an accident on his way to the academy.

“On Monday, they started collecting their kits, they queued up at the military store to collect their kits, suddenly, while he was in the queue, he fell down and he was rushed to the NDA hospital.

“In the hospital, the doctor asked him what was wrong with him and he told the doctor that he had an accident on his way to the academy.

“They asked him why he didn’t   inform the authorities that he had  an accident on the way. He told the doctor that he was scared of being withdrawn from the academy, knowing how competitive admission into the NDA is. Unfortunately, he lost his life.”