Sexual harassment among high-ranking soldiers is a troubling issue that undermines trust, morale, and discipline within the military.
High-ranking officials can create an environment where abuses go unchecked, leading to a culture of silence among victims.
This concern is brought to light by a discharged female soldier, Private Ruth Ogunleye. She was relieved from service after accusing a senior officer, Colonel I.B. Abdulkareem, of sexual harassment.
Now, she wants the Nigerian Army authorities to publish the outcome of its investigation into the matter.
Alleged Sexual Harassment
In January 2024, via her TikTok page, @Ogunleyeruthsavage1, Ogunleye alleged that Colonel I.B. Abdulkareem, Colonel G.S. Ogor, and Brigadier General I.B. Solebo had made her life unbearable.
The former Army personnel accused Abdulkareem of making repeated attempts to assault her and administering injections against her will.
She also claims he forcibly removed her from her residence and confined her to a psychiatric hospital for several months after she rejected his sexual advances.
Sexual Harassment Investigation Outcome
However, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, reported that Ogunleye’s allegations lacked merit.
The army spokesperson stated that after an exhaustive review of the facts, testimonies, and evidence presented, they determined that Abdulkareem did not commit the offenses alleged by Ogunleye.
Nwachukwu also stated that medical reports following an evaluation at the National Hospital in Abuja indicated that Ogunleye was suffering from a condition that rendered her medically vulnerable.
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Ogunleye Reaction To Investigation
Reacting to her discharge from service on her TikTok account on Tuesday, Ogunleye expressed gratitude to the Army and pleaded for them to make the outcome of the investigation public.
She said: “I want to say a big thank you to the Nigerian Army and its spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu.
“It is no longer news that I was discharged from the service on June 15, 2024.
“I humbly request that the Nigerian Army publish the outcome of the investigation that led to my discharge.
“On January 9, 2024, I came on social media to complain about how I was harassed by Colonel I.B. Abdulkareem, Colonel G.S. Ogor, and Brigadier General I.B. Solebo.
“I beg the Nigerian Army to post the outcome of the investigation on its social media platforms so that the whole world will know what truly transpired and what led to my discharge.
“I will be very grateful if my request is considered”.
A Request For Intervention
In a separate post, Ogunleye also called on the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy, not to remain silent on the matter.
She said that the minister had prevailed on her to write the discharge letter, which she submitted on her behalf to the Nigerian Army.
However, Ogunleye expressed shock that her discharge was tied to a mental illness.
She said: “I’m calling out the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy.
“You’re not just a mother, you’re a woman everybody respects so much. Please come out and say things as they are.
“Ma, you requested me to leave the job, and I submitted my handwritten voluntary resignation letter to you, which you gave to the Army, and requested that they release me to your office.
“Come out and tell the truth, ma. Thereafter, the Chief of Army Staff called me on July 1, where he told me he converted my voluntary discharge to a medical discharge because you wanted me to benefit from pension and other entitlements.
“How was I boarded out, and where is this mental illness coming from?”
