NDA speaks on controversies over missing cadet Stephen Gani

By Mohammad. Tijjani

The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), has reacted to controversies over Stephen Gani, one of its cadets who has been missing since April, 2025.

Stephen Gani, a member of 76 Regular Course who reported for training on Aug. 26, 2024 was discovered to be missing on April. 28, 2025.

But there have been insinuations that the NDA has not taken any action to find the missing cadet.

However, NDA, in a statement by its spokesperson, Maj. Reuben Kovangiya, on Friday in Kaduna denied the claim of inaction.
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Kovangiya said, “The attention of the NDA has been drawn to reports circulating across various online media platforms as regards the missing of Cadet Stephen Gani.”

He said the report alleged that the cadet mysteriously went missing from the academy without appropriate actions taken by the NDA to ascertain his whereabouts.

“To set the record straight in the interest of accuracy and transparency, Cadet Gani was admitted into the academy as a member of 76 Regular Course and reported for training on Aug. 26, 2024.

“His training progressed without any hitch, but he was observed to have absented himself from the academy with effect from April. 28, 2025 without official permission.”

Koyangiya said in accordance with established procedures and extant regulations guiding cadets’ administration in NDA, his parents were formally notified three days after his absence.

He added that seven days after the occurrence, he was “struck off strength following due to administrative procedures.”

He disclosed that the 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 was 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,” Koyangiya added.

He said NDA, therefore, was calling on the public to discountenance the claim that the institution was doing nothing about the cadet’s mysterious disappearance.

The spokesperson added, “We will continue to engage all parties in this matter to ensure a positive outcome,

“We wish to reiterate that NDA takes the safety and wellbeing of all its cadets seriously.”

According to him, adequate structures are on ground to ensure that every cadet is accounted for through regular stop checks and physical inspections.

Koyangiya sauce that NDA remained 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, “Kovangiya said.