Tobi Adebayo
Human rights activist and Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore has reacted to the arrest of a female soldier for accepting the marriage proposal of a corps member.
Recall that in a viral video, the officer identified as Army Private Akinlabi Sofiyat was publicly proposed to by a corps member at the Yikpata Orientation Camp in Kwara State.
The Army, in a statement by its spokesman, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, explained that Akinlabi was detained because she violated the Nigerian Army’s rules and regulations guiding the codes of conduct of military personnel when deployed for duty.
Nwachukwu stated further that the female officer violated some rules of the Nigerian Army, including indulging in an amorous relationship with a trainee; indulging in romance while in uniform; disobeying the Armed Forces standing guidelines and directives for the use of social media, among others.
Reacting to the statement, Sowore shared pictures of male soldiers who had engaged in a public display of affection with their partners and accused the military of being chauvinistic.
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“Numerous examples of HQ Nigerian Army male soldiers proposing to their girlfriends in uniform. The chauvinism in the military is sickening.
#FreeSofiat The HQ Nigerian Army authorities have denied Army Private Akinlabi Sofiyat access to members of her family and refused to provide her with food, sanitary materials and medical care. She’s detained under unhealthy conditions in a “guardroom” reported meant for male soldiers at Sobi Military Cantonment in Ilorin, Kwara State.
“Her Commanding officer, Brigadier General AE Abubakar is threatening to send her to an underground cell at the @HQ Nigerian Army dungeon at the Army HQ in Abuja!
“Pte Sofiyat Akinlabi must be released immediately. #RevolutionNow,” he wrote on Facebook.
