*The Nigerian Army forgives and releases a female soldier earlier detained over an amorous relationship with a trainee Corps member from detention to join her family and friends to celebrate Christmas Saturday, December 25, 2021

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

Perhaps in the spirit of the festive season, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), has ordered the immediate release of Private (Pte.) Hannah Sofiat Akinlabi, a detained female soldier over her love affair with a serving National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member in Kwara State.

ConsumerConnect gathered that soldier had been forgiven, and freed from detention to join her family and friends to celebrate Christmas Saturday, December 25, 2021.

Earlier, Pte. Akinlabi had accepted a marriage proposal from a male Corps member at the NYSC Orientation Camp at Yikpata, in Kwara State.

A reliable source at Army Headquarters told the News Agency of Nigeria Saturday, that the COAS took the decision in the spirit of Christmas.

The source was quoted to have said that the female soldier had been warned and reprimanded for breaching the extant rules guiding the conduct of the Nigerian military personnel.

The soldier (Pte. Akinlabi) had been forgiven, and freed from detention to join her family and friends to celebrate Christmas, said the unnamed source.

According to the source, this is in line with the COAS’ vision to have a professional Nigerian Army ready to accomplish assigned missions within a joint environment in defence of of the West African country.

Recall that the female soldier had earlier been detained for violating military rules and regulations by getting involved in a public display of an amorous relationship with a paramilitary trainee – a Corps member.

Subsequently, the military authorities detained her after video clips where she was seen accepting a marriage proposal from a male Corps member at the NYSC orientation camp in Kwara, went viral on the social media.

Hitherto, her family members, several civil society groups, and notable individuals in the country had urged the Nigerian Army authorities to release the female soldier.