>
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant-General Faruk Yahaya, has ordered the release of Private Hannah Sofiat Akinlabi, the female soldier who was detained after a video clip of her being proposed to by a male corps member at the National Youth Service Corps orientation camp in Yikpata, Kwara State, went viral on social media.
Yahaya, who is currently in the North East to celebrate Yuletide with officers and men fighting the counter-insurgency war, wants the female soldier to enjoy Christmas and New Year with her family, friends and colleagues.
It was gathered that the Army Chief in the last few days made overtures to the leadership of the Nigerian Armed Forces, requesting that the soldier be pardoned even as he 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 military authorities have considered the appeal of the Army Chief and ordered the release of the soldier.