Emotional Plea: Soldier Apologizes for NYSC Mistake, Seeks Mercy and Reinstatement into Nigerian Army

Valentino Damilola Abobare, a 22-year-old soldier from Ifira Akoko, Ondo State, has made an emotional appeal to President Bola Tinubu, seeking reinstatement into the Nigerian Army after enduring months of torture and being dismissed unjustly. Abobare, who served in the Nigerian Army, claims that he was detained for several months at the 231 Battalion in Biu, Borno State, where he was subjected to severe ill-treatment without trial or pay.

Abobare’s fiancée raised alarm about his suffering, which led to his eventual release, but he was dismissed from the army for attending the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, an action that was reportedly seen as a violation of military regulations. In 2021, SaharaReporters reported that Lt. Col. M.E. Obi, the then Commanding Officer of the 231 Battalion, had detained Abobare for over six months, denying him basic rights and his salary.

The soldier’s wife, Sarah Valentino, publicly spoke out, urging authorities to intervene as her husband’s health deteriorated under the harsh conditions of detention. She explained that he had attended the NYSC in Ibadan in 2019/2020, intending to use the certificate to advance in his military career. However, the army viewed this as a violation, leading to his detention.

Despite several attempts to appeal his case, including reaching out to the army’s legal service department and the Nigerian Army headquarters, Abobare’s efforts to be reinstated were unsuccessful. Now, facing unemployment and struggling to support his family, Abobare has written a heartfelt letter to President Tinubu, hoping for a chance to return to the military.

In his emotional letter, Abobare recounted the trauma he faced during his detention, describing the physical and emotional toll it took on him. He said, “I spent seven months in detention with severe ill-treatment… I could not afford medications, and I was terribly sick. My fiancée had to go public to protest my release because she could not stand and watch me die in the army’s custody.”

Abobare admitted that attending the NYSC while in service was a mistake and expressed deep regret for his actions. He apologized for his misstep and promised to be disciplined, loyal, and of good conduct if reinstated. He acknowledged the importance of serving his country and pledged to dedicate himself fully to the army’s mission.

Abobare shared that after his dismissal, he worked in various establishments, including John Event Industries Limited in Akure and the Ondo State Specialist Hospital Ikare, but struggled to secure stable employment. He concluded his letter by appealing to President Tinubu, urging him to consider his case with compassion, as he views the president as “the father and the mother of the nation.”

“I have decided to take this step and I have considered it as my final trail and only hope by contacting your excellency,” he wrote, asking for mercy and a chance to redeem his career. He expressed hope that his letter would reach the president and that he would be granted the opportunity to serve again.