In the spirit of the Christmas season, the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt. Gen. Faruq Yahaya, wants a female soldier who publicly accepted the proposal of a male youths corps member in Kwara State to be pardoned, according to a report by PRNigeria.
Sources in the Nigerian military told PRNigeria that Gen. Yahaya, in the last few days, made overtures to the leadership of the Nigerian armed forces, requesting that the soldier be pardoned.
However, the COAS maintained that the erring soldier should be strongly reprimanded against engaging in any kind of act that contravenes the military code of conduct for its officers and men, the sources said.
The Military authority has considered the appeal of the Army Chief and ordered the release of the soldier to enjoy Christmas with family and friends.
It could be recalled that a video of a male corps member proposing to a female soldier at the Yikpata Orientation Camp of the NYSC in Kwara State recently surfaced online and went viral.
In one of the video clips, some corps members were seen having a discussion at a venue believed to be the parade ground of the orientation camp.
The discussion was still on when the yet-to-be-identified corps member, who was seen holding a ring, went down on one knee and popped the question to the soldier with the lady accepting the proposal.
The corps member inserted the ring in the finger of the visibly excited soldier amid cheers from others at the scene.
In another clip, the pair are seen sharing lovey-dovey moments. The corps member was seen wearing the lady’s military cap as she stood directly behind him.
They thereafter shared a kiss to the delight of other corps members filming the incident.
There were reports after the incident that the soldier was detained by the Army, an action that received wide condemnation on social media.
However, aside public ‘outrage’ over the action of the Nigerian military, PRNigeria gathered that Lt. Gen. Yahaya’s ‘appeal for mercy’ for the female soldier, may not be unconnected with the fact that the Christmas season presents an opportunity for persons who erred to be given clemency.
“The COAS, in his wisdom, believes that the young female soldier will retrace her steps and show remorse for engaging in acts that negates military ethical codes, by the time she is pardoned and forgiven. Hence, he has been appealing for her to be pardoned. This is what he has been doing behind the scene, in the last few days,” said a senior military officer, who does not want PRNigeria to mention his name.
When contacted, the Army Spokesperson, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu told PRNigeria that, the soldier would be released on Christmas Day.
“I can confirm to you that an order has been made for the soldier to be freed and enjoy the Christmas with her family and friends with a serious warning for her not to repeat such act again,” he said
