Our Son And Detained Female Soldier Met Three Years Before NYSC Camp – Corps Member Family Says
According to a report by PUNCH, the family of a youth corps member, Private Sofiyat Akinlabi, who proposed to a female soldier, has claimed that the two met three years ago in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
At the National Youth Service Corps orientation camp in Yikpata, Kwara State, the corper proposed to Akinlabi, a female.
Many social media users were moved by video recordings of the corps member proposing to the female soldier.
One of the moments taken on the parade ground at the camp showed the corps member kneeling with a ring to propose to the female soldier.
Akinlabi’s connection with a corps member named Remi began in Abeokuta over three years ago, before the latter entered the military, according to a family member.
According to the source, the two had lost contact but were unexpectedly reunited by serendipity at the NYSC camp last month.
“They have known each other before they got to camp. They met in Abeokuta over three years ago before she joined the Army but lost contact sometimes ago. Meeting on NYSC camp was like a reunion.
“They have been friends all along and Remi thought it wise to seize the opportunity of their meeting again to propose to her. He had to walk up to her as a man and not worry about her new status as a soldier because she would eventually get married.
“He got the courage and proposed to her out with a ring which she accepted. The whole thing was totally a surprise to her.
“It happened after the passing out parade on December 14, 2021. She was at the Mammy Market pressing her phone, she was just on her own and she never knew something of such would happen.
“When he walked up to her, she was over joyous and dumfounded at the same time. She is a lady and her reactions were triggered by emotions. Like men, women are still emotional beings no matter who they are.
“Remi was not holding any phone and did not record the moment. He didn’t post anything on social media and she didn’t also post it on social media. It was the fellow corpers around that did the posting on social media.
“He can’t explain his love for her because they so connected emotionally when they met again and he believes it is true love,” the source said.
On December 14, 2021, the Nigerian Army arrested Akinlabi after the sweethearts shared a hug and kiss, much to the pleasure of other corpers at the camp in Kwara.
Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, said Akinlabi’s actions constituted to exploiting her trainee, adding that the public would have been horrified and accused the army of compulsion if a male soldier proposed to a female corper at the NYSC parade.
He said, “The female soldier in question violated the following rules of the NA: fraternisation while on official duty at the NYSC camp. That is, indulging in an amorous relationship with a trainee. Personnel must have served for three years before he/she can qualify for marriage.”