In the spirit of the 2021 Christmas gift, the Chief of Army Staff, COAS Lt. Gen. Faruq Yahaya, has pardoned a female soldier, Pte. Hannah Sofiat A, with order for her immediate release to her family and friends.
Following Sofiat’s detention since she publicly accepted the proposal of a male youths corps member of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC in Kwara State, identified as ‘Remi’ barely a week ago.
It is also gathered from the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN that a reliable source at Army Headquarters confirmed Saturday that the COAS took the decision in the spirit of Christmas.
According to NAN, the source said that the female soldier had been warned and reprimanded for breaching the extant rule guiding the conduct of military personnel.
“He said that the soldier had been forgiven and freed from detention to join her family and friends to celebrate Christmas.
In addition, NAN reports that this is inline with the COAS vision to have a Professional Nigerian Army Ready to Accomplish Assigned Missions within a Joint Environment in Defence of Nigeria.
The Daily Newswave recalls that Sofiat was detained after a viral video clip on social media showed she accepted a marriage proposal from a male corps member at the NYSC orientation camp in Kwara.
Human rights activists across the country and abroad have shown interest in the matter and called for her immediate release by the Nigerian Army hierarchy.
Meanwhile, Sofiat’s detention triggered the surfacing of avalanche of soldier’s photos and videos proposing to civilians and within the ranks and files on social media.