The Nigerian Army has confirmed speculations that a female soldier was kept in detention for accepting a corper’s marriage proposal in camp.
A viral video had showed an Army Private, Hannah Sofiat A. Accepting a marriage proposal ring from a male corps, member at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSA) Orientation Camp in Yikpata, Kwara State. SEE VIDEO
Reports surfaced after the video went viral that the female soldier was detained by the Nigeria Army.
Reacting in an exclusive interview with PUNCH on Sunday, the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the female soldier will be penalized for violating stipulated military rules and regulations while on duty and on uniform.
The Army spokesperson said;
“The female soldier in question violated the following rules of the NA: fraternization while on official duty at the NYSC camp. That is, indulging in an amorous relationship with a trainee.
“Personnel must have served for three years before he/she can qualify for marriage.
“She disobeyed the Armed Forces of Nigeria standing guidelines and directives for the use of Social Media. Indulging in romance while in uniform.
“Her conduct was prejudicial to good order and military discipline.
“All the above, if proven are in violation of extant laws with attendant disciplinary and penal implications.
“As a personnel, her task was to train the Youth Corps members and not to indulge in amorous relationship with any of them. These rules were put in place for the purpose of proper administration and discipline in the Army. If I may ask, what if the soldier was a male? How would the public have perceived his action? Definitely, it would have been perceived as taking advantage of a female Corper, a trainee, put in his care for training.”
The Army spokesman, however, declined comments on the likely punishment the female soldier might get but said “the Nigerian Military like all others, has its disciplinary codes, distinct from that of the general society. All personnel have voluntarily undertaken to be bound by this code.”
Meanwhile #freeSofiat powered by a human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, has been trending on the social media.
Sowore in one of the numerous hash-tags wrote;
“#FreeSofiat HQ Nigerian Army is illegally holding Army Private Hannah Sofiat A, her offence was accepting a marriage proposal from her National Youth Corps Service(NYSC) lover at a Mammy Market in Ilorin. There is no law that prevents anyone from accepting a marriage proposal in military uniform but as it is typical of the pre-civilization Nigerian military she was clamped into detention at Sobi Military Cantonment in Ilorin, Kwara state.
The Nigerian military must release Sofiat asap and apologise to her for illegal detention. #RevolutionNow.”
