Army chief orders release of Private Sofiyat, soldier engaged to corps member

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, has ordered the release of the female soldier, Private Sofiyat Akinlabi, who accepted a marriage proposal by a male corps member at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp, Yikpata, Kwara State.

RELIABLESOURCENG.COM learnt that the Army Chief ordered her release with immediate effect in the spirit of Christmas.

Yahaya admonished the female soldier to obey the ethics of the profession and shun indiscipline.

Private Sofiyat has been in the news following a viral video showing a male corps member proposing marriage to her during a parade in the orientation camp.

The visibly excited spinster, in military uniform, accepted the young graduate’s proposal and the lovebirds were seen locked in a warm embrace and kissed to the cheery applause of other corps members.

READ: Marriage proposal: Army detains female soldier for ‘indulging in romance while in uniform’

However, the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, 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 was offering explanation on why the love-struck soldier was detained by the army after the video went viral.

Sofiyat’s detention had generated outrage from the public, with human rights lawyers, accusing the army of violating the rights of the female soldier.