The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya has ordered immediate release of a detained female soldier, Pte. Hannah Sofiat A.
Sofiat had accepted a marriage proposal from a male corps member at the National Youth Service Corps Orientation Camp in Yikpata, Kwara.
A reliable source at Army Headquarters told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday that the COAS took the decision in the spirit of Christmas.
The source said that the female soldier had been warned and reprimanded for breaching the extant rule guiding the conduct of military personnel.
He said that the soldier had been forgiven and freed from detention to join her family and friends to celebrate Christmas.
According to the source, this is in line with the COAS vision to have a Professional Nigerian Army Ready to Accomplish Assigned Missions within a Joint Environment in Defence of Nigeria.
Sofiat had earlier been detained for violating military rules and regulations by getting involved in a public display of amorous relationship with a paramilitary trainee – a corps member.
She was detained after video clips where she was seen accepting a marriage proposal from a male corps member at the NYSC orientation camp in Kwara, went viral on social media.
Several groups and individuals have been urging the Nigerian Army authority to release the female soldier.
The NYSC had in its reaction said “we always tell our corps members to play by the rules”.
According to Director-General of the NYSC, “Every organisation has its own customs and traditions, and we have to abide by it. We, on our part, have spoken to our corps members.
“We encourage them to inter-marry, but we have never had a situation where a corps member will go and propose (to a soldier).
“The army has its own tradition and they will not joke with it. So, we always tell our corps members to play by the rules.
“I can assure that the army as an institution is built on its customs and traditions, and anything that will impinge on discipline, they will not take it lightly.”
Meanwhile, the Army in its reaction said; “If the female soldier had not engaged in public romance in uniform at the orientation camp, but outside, nobody would have bothered.
“If she is not sanctioned, others may just be emboldened to do even worse than she did. Remember that military laws and regulations are different from that of the civil service”.
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