A Nigerian soldier, dismissed after accusing senior officers of rape and sexual harassment, has spoken out in a new video, criticizing her treatment by the military.
Ex-private Ruth Ogunleye first made the allegations in January via her TikTok account, where she claimed to have been sexually assaulted and harassed by a general and two colonels, leading to widespread outrage across Nigeria.
In the original video, Ogunleye detailed the abuse she allegedly endured, stating that she had “suffered immensely” at the hands of her superiors. The allegations quickly gained traction, prompting women affairs minister to discuss the case with the army chief.
However, following an internal investigation, the Nigerian Army dismissed her claims.
The army said Ogunleye was discharged due to a medical condition, without providing details about her condition, and accused her of refusing to seek treatment at either the National Hospital in Abuja or through military medical services.
The army described the accused officer, Colonel I.B. Abdulkareem, as a “dedicated officer who has served our nation with honour and distinction.”
In response to the investigation’s conclusion, Ogunleye released a new video on TikTok, calling for transparency and demanding that the findings of the investigation be made public.
“Firstly, I want to thank [army spokesman] General Onyema Nwachukwu for posting me on all social media platforms and newspapers. It shows how powerful I am,” she remarked sarcastically.
She continued, “On January 9th, 2024, I came on social media to complain about how I was harassed, raped, and injected. They put me inside a casket, pointed a gun at me, handcuffed me, and kept me in an office for days. I beg the Nigerian Army to post the investigation’s outcome on all social media platforms, so the world will know what really happened.”
The army has stood by the outcome of its investigation, insisting that Ogunleye’s dismissal was unrelated to her allegations and attributing it instead to her medical condition. They also accused her of using social media to spread false narratives, engage in cyberbullying, and defame Colonel Abdulkareem and other officers.
“While we remain empathetic to Ex-Pte Ruth Ogunleye’s medical condition, we must categorically reject the continued defamation of Colonel Abdulkareem and the denigration of the Nigerian Army,” Mr Nwachukwu said on Tuesday.
“The Army has done everything within its power to address her concerns through the appropriate channels, and investigative findings have cleared Colonel Abdulkareem of any wrongdoing. We caution the public to treat her allegations as baseless and without merit, given her established condition.
“The Nigerian Army stands firm in its commitment to maintaining discipline and order within its ranks. Colonel IB Abdulkareem is a dedicated officer who has served our nation with honour and distinction. While we remain committed to providing care and support to former personnel like Ex-Pte Ruth Ogunleye, we will not allow our personnel to be maligned or subjected to unwarranted attacks.”
Women’s rights advocates have questioned the integrity of the military’s investigation and are calling for an independent inquiry.
“The army is known for not wanting to wash its dirty linen in public,” Hadiza Ado, founder of the Women and Children Initiative, told the BBC. “If they claim she had a medical condition that makes her vulnerable, how long was she in service with that condition? Why is it only being mentioned now after her dismissal?”
Discover more from Pluboard
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.