The Nigerian Army has disclosed why it arrested and detained a female soldier who went viral for accepting a marriage proposal from a serving Corps member for violating military laws by getting involved in a public display of amorous relationship with a paramilitary trainee – a corps member.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, made this known in an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday.
Nwachukwu said the female officer violated the Nigerian Army’s rules and regulations guiding the codes of conduct of military personnel when deployed for duty.
The army spokesman said the female soldier’s action amounted to taking advantage of her trainee, noting that the public would have been outraged and accused the Army of coercion had a male soldier proposed to a female corper during NYSC parade.
He listed the rules violated by the soldier to include;
“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,” he said.
Recall that the unnamed female soldier, became an internet sensation after accepting the marriage proposal at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Yikpata, Kwara State.
The video which generated social media buzz showed the corps member holding a ring as he curtseyed to ask the female soldier to marry him.
The visibly excited spinster in military uniform accepted the proposal to the cheery applause of the onlookers.
