The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has issued a formal clarification regarding viral social media reports on cadet sanctions. The Academy dismissed the circulating claims as unauthorized and reaffirmed its commitment to internal disciplinary standards.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the NDA has acknowledged circulating online posts regarding sanctions on erring cadets. These disciplinary measures followed the recently concluded Commandant’s Orders at its headquarters in Afaka, Kaduna, which the Academy maintains are strictly internal matters.
NDA spokesperson Major Reuben Kovangiya noted in a Friday statement that the recent Commandant’s Orders are simply routine procedures. These mechanisms serve as the Academy’s established way to enforce discipline and handle administrative matters.
As the nation’s premier military training institution for officer cadets, the NDA emphasized that sanctions are applied based on the gravity of each offense. All disciplinary actions are strictly governed by the provisions of the NDA Cadets’ Handbook on Discipline and Administration.
The Academy specified that these disciplinary measures range from confinement and relegation to the more severe penalties of withdrawal and dismissal.
The Academy further confirmed that the most recent Commandant’s Orders resulted in the dismissal and withdrawal of several cadets found guilty of various disciplinary infractions.
In a firm rebuttal, the NDA stated that the social media publications disclosing cadet disciplinary outcomes were not sanctioned by the Academy and should be disregarded.
The NDA noted that these unofficial reports were likely the work of attention-seekers looking to gain social media traction at the Academy’s expense.
“The academy does not indulge in publicising administrative procedures or unconscionable actions, based on the need to uphold established military ethics, traditions and the principle of confidentiality guiding administrative procedures,” it said.
The NDA reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to grooming disciplined, morally upright, and academically exceptional officers for the Armed Forces of Nigeria. The Academy maintains a policy of zero tolerance for any form of misconduct or deviation from its exacting institutional standards.
The Academy further reassures the public of its unwavering commitment to its core mandate: equipping officer cadets with the essential knowledge, skills, and values through a rigorous blend of military, academic, and character development.
