The Nigerian Army has admitted to detaining a female soldier who accepted the marriage proposal of a male National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member in Kwara State.
Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, confirmed the development in an interview on Sunday.
The soldier was visibly delighted and accepted the young graduate’s proposal to the applause of other corps members at the parade ground.
Although the video generated a largely positive reaction, the army said the female soldier violated the Nigerian Army’s rules and regulations guiding the codes of conduct of military personnel when deployed for duty.
According to Nwachukwu, the army’s spokesperson, the action of the soldier could be equated to taking advantage of her trainee (the corps member).
“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 told the Punch.
The army spokesperson added that “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”.
