A female Nigerian Army officer collapsed mid-stride during what appeared to be a ceremonial passing-out parade at a military academy, prompting an outpouring of concern from Nigerians on social media and beyond.
The incident, captured in a now-viral video circulating online, unfolded during a formal drill involving rows of uniformed personnel standing at attention in a grand auditorium adorned with the Nigerian flag and military insignia. The officer, dressed in crisp camouflage fatigues and a green beret, suddenly buckled at the knees just as the formation executed a synchronized turn. Quick reflexes from a fellow soldier behind her prevented a potentially severe fall, as he lunged forward to catch her, easing her to the ground amid gasps from onlookers.
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Eyewitness accounts from the video, which has garnered over 68,000 views in mere hours, show the auditorium – believed to be at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna – filled with dignitaries, fellow cadets, and families. Banners proclaiming “Nigerian Military School” and colorful national flags framed the stage, where senior officers in red caps and traditional attire observed the proceedings. The collapse occurred around the 18-second mark of the footage, freezing the disciplined rhythm of the parade into a scene of urgent concern.
While details about the officer’s identity and condition remain unconfirmed as of press time, the video’s rapid spread on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) has ignited a flurry of reactions. Many Nigerians expressed admiration for the soldier’s swift intervention, with one user,@kori_babatorpe, posting: “How about the reflexes on that gallant soldier that caught her mid fall anyone??? Let’s give him some flowers.” Others raised poignant questions about the health and welfare of the nation’s armed forces.
This should be the least expected from happening to our officers. Are they conducting weekly or monthly medical check-ups?” queried
@ForestOfWealth
, echoing a sentiment shared by scores of commenters who pointed to the grueling demands of military training. Speculation swirled, with some attributing the faint to heat exhaustion or low blood sugar – common in high-stress drills – while a few skeptics dismissed it as a “skit,” though the raw emotion in the clip suggests otherwise.
The video, first shared by the account
@NigeriaStories
, has drawn 787 likes and over 130 replies, amplifying calls for transparency from the military hierarchy. “The soldier behind her reacted swiftly… she would have hit her head on the floor and it would have been very bad,” noted @Bored8Alien, a registered nurse, highlighting the potential dangers of such lapses.
As of Saturday evening, neither the Nigerian Army nor the NDA had issued an official statement on the matter. Vanguard reached out to the Army Public Relations spokesperson for comment but was awaiting a response. In the meantime, prayers and well-wishes flooded social media, with users like @Harewohpondering the eerie focus of the cameraman: “But wait… how did the cameraman know she’d collapse? that he focused the camera on her alone.?”
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