The Nigerian Army on Sunday disclosed that it has detained an unnamed female soldier who got romantically involved with a male corps member at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Yikpata, Kwara State.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, confirmed the development on Sunday, saying the female officer violated military laws by getting involved in a public display of amorous relationship with a paramilitary trainee – a corps member.
Video clips showing a male corps member proposing to a female soldier at the NYSC camp in Kwara State hit the internet few days ago, eliciting pleasant reactions from many social media users.
One of the video clips apparently recorded on the camp’s parade ground showed the yet-to-be-identified corps member holding a ring as he knelt to ask the female soldier to marry him.
The visibly excited female soldier in military uniform, accepted the corps member’s proposal and later went on to insert the ring in his love interest’s finger. The lovebirds thereafter locked themselves in a warm embrace and kissed to the applause of other corps members.
But in a statement on Sunday, the Army spokesman said the female soldier violated the Nigerian Army’s rules and regulations guiding the codes of conduct of military personnel when deployed for duty.
Nwachukwu said the female soldier’s action amounted to taking advantage of her trainee, noting that the public would have been outraged and accused the Army of coercion had a male soldier proposed to a female corper during NYSC parade.
He said: “The female soldier in question violated the following rules of the NA:
“1. Fraternization while on official duty at the NYSC camp. That is, indulging in an amorous relationship with a trainee.
“2. A personnel must have served for three years before he/she can qualify for marriage.
“3. She disobeyed the Armed Forces of Nigeria standing guidelines and directives for the use of Social Media.
“4. Indulging in romance while in uniform.
“5. 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.”
Nwachukwu, however, did not say 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. Every personnel has voluntarily undertaken to be bound by this code.”
Some activists including Omoyele Sowore, who shared photos of military officers proposing to their love interests in uniform on Facebook, have since called for the release of the female soldier.
