The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya, has ordered Military authorities to pardon a female soldier who publicly accepted the proposal of a male member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kwara State to be pardoned, military sources have said.
Senior Army sources said that Gen. Yahaya, in the last few days, made overtures to the leadership of the Nigerian armed forces, requesting that the soldier be pardoned.
But despite the intervention, 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.
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 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 would 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 are seen having a discussion at a venue believed to be the parade ground of the orientation camp.
The discussion is still on when the yet-to-be-identified corps member, who is seen holding a ring, goes down on one knee and pops the question to the soldier with the lady accepting the proposal.
The corps member goes on to insert 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 is seen wearing the lady’s military cap as she stands directly behind him.
They thereafter share 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.
“The COAS, in his wisdom, believes that the young female soldier will retrace her steps and show remorse for engaging in acts that negate 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
Confirming that the soldier would be released on Christmas Day, Nwachukwu said, “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.”